King Rajasinghe harbours a suspicion
The temporary Viceroy could not abstain from sending supplementary armies. So he sent an army under an inefficient commander. This army was seen by a convoy of Dutch ships. They were afraid of facing them.
The ships that carried the supplementary army stopped on the way at Thoothukudi (also known as Tuticorin). As a result the people of Colombo had to face a terrible time. The Dutch too lost hope as the Monsoon period was coming to an end. They spread wild rumours about the temporary Viceroy Mascarenhas.
Whilst spreading these rumours, the Dutch sent out shots from their cannon. But the Portuguese General sent word to the effect that he would not surrender at whatever cost. Finally, the Dutch decided to besiege the city of Colombo.
As things were progressing in this way, the king had a suspicion, that the Portuguese and the Dutch would come to a peace agreement without informing him. He had a wish to come to Colombo but did not come. He also had a fear that the Dutch would besiege Colombo without informing him.
He immediately sent word to the Dutch not to besiege Colombo without keeping him informed. But the Dutch acted otherwise.
On May 7, 1656, the Dutch struck the entrance of St. John so hard that it gave way.
By Halaliye Karunathilake
Edited and translated by Kamala Silva
Illustrated by Saman Kalubowila