King Rajasinghe flees
Pigera started conquering the camps set up by King Rajasinghe. The king arrived there, accompanied by his security forces. Meanwhile, some of the mercenary armies that were serving Pigera, deserted him. Yet, Pigera did not give up the fight. He went on attacking the Sinhala army.
A number of guns that bore the emblem of Late General Constantine de Saa, which were in the possession of the Sinhala army, were snatched by the Portuguese. King Rajasinghe knew that the battle was going to be a failure. He went back to Kandy, with the intention of making preparations for the Dalada Perahera (procession).
King Rajasinghe decided to hold the Dalada Perahera in its highest grandeur possible to establish the fact that he was the undisputed leader of the country and maintain that status. On the very day of the perahera, Pigera besieged Thumpane. The king sent the Dissawa of Peradeniya to chase him away.
By this time, the Dutch had besieged the fort in Kalutara. It was done expecting to get Pigera there. But, Pigera did not budge an inch from where he was. In the meantime, King Rajasinghe suggested holding a press conference. This was done with the intention of getting Pigera there to take part in it.
All these attempts failed. King Rajasinghe set up camp in Mawela. By this time, Pigera did not have enough soldiers in the army to continue the fight. But he made a false alarm to the effect that he was coming to besiege the king. The king believe this and fled the scene.
By Halaliye Karunathilake,
Edited and translated by Kamala Silva
Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila