SRI LANKA - DUTCH ERA

Dutch Ceylon is a term used synonymously for the period, and the area of 

Ceylon or Sri Lanka that was controlled by the Dutch from 1658–1798 and 

their rule.

In the 17th century, Sri Lanka was partly ruled by the Portuguese invaders 

and the Sinhala Kingdom, who were constantly battling each other. Although 

the Portuguese were not winning the war, their rule was rather burdensome 

to the people of those areas controlled by them. The Dutch were engaged in 

a long war of independence from Spanish rule. In that background, Sinhala King 

(Kandyan King) invited the Dutch to help defeat the Portuguese. The Dutch 

interest in Ceylon was to have a united battle front against the Iberians at 

that time.

After the Sri Lankans betrayal of the Dutch, the Dutch invaded parts of Sri 

Lanka. They retained an area as compensation for the cost of war and gradually 

extended their land. The Dutch gained control of the coastline, but later the 

colonial British rulers succeeded them. The Dutch and British each ruled for 

approximately 150 years.

Contents  [hide] 1 Background 1.1 The Portuguese 2 History 2.1 The Dutch Conquest 2.2 Double Game of the Dutch and the Nayake Rulers 2.3 Dutch-Portuguese War 2.4 Dutch Capture Portuguese Forts 2.5 Treachery in Kandy 3 The Dutch and the Portuguese 4 Implications of the Dutch Rule in Ceylon 5 Dutch Governors of Zeylan (1640–1796) 6 Legacy 7 Future of Dutch Diaspora in Ceylon 8 See also 9 References

Source : Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia