Dutch Times

Dutch Times
1638	Arrival of the Dutch (who has the largest merchant fleet in the world)- has latest & superior equipment, arms & ammo than Portuguese. They introduce humble & cunning tactics, & use Ceylon with a mean heart. They fool Sinhalese who judge people on what they say and do.	The Sinhala send envoys to Goa, and several Dutch messengers landed in the east coast. The treaty was a mutually beneficial one. Dutch insist on monopoly of spice trade, especially cinnamon. Sinhala king also to reimburse the cost of the war back to the Dutch over the years. Sinhalese are desperate to make the deal which is more beneficial to Dutch. Dutch has the largest merchant fleet in the world. Latest & superior equipment, arms & ammo than Portuguese who are a declining power. They recruit mercenaries from Scandinavian & Germany when manpower was needed. King thinks he is hiring mercenaries to get rid of Portuguese. The Dutch, despite being forced to be fair for inability to wage continuous war, never showed any concern for the Sinhala welfare. They were merchants who intended to stay on as long as possible, using military power and humble or cunning tactics to maintain trade monopoly.
1638	Dutch introduce humble & cunning tactics, & use Ceylon with a mean heart. They fool Sinhalese who judge people on what they say and do.	The Dutch, despite being forced to be fair for inability to wage continuous war, never showed any concern for the Sinhala welfare. They were merchants who intended to stay on as long as possible, using military power and humble or cunning tactics to maintain trade monopoly. The Dutch would never mix with the locals the way the Portuguese did. They just used Ceylon with meanness of false respect and humbleness, which fooled the Sinhalese who judged people on what they say. Dutch resort to business instead of territorial rule. Yet they turn to violence without hesitation if business is threatened. Sinhalese, who thinks all white men are the same, fail to notice this difference between Portuguese and the Dutch. Some Sinhala think the Dutch are good and tempt to cooperate.
1638	The War on Portuguese with Dutch help, Begins	First attack is on Portuguese fort in Battie, attacked by Sinhala army from the ground and Dutch ships from the sea. In May 1638, they surrender.
1639	Dutch find Ceylonese Cinnamon the best in the world	Dutch realizes that Ceylonese cinnamon is the best in the world. They decide to monopolize on that trade.
1640	Desperate Portuguese demands 50% more cinnamon, even from children	Portuguese increase the amount of cinnamon a family should supply to them from 460,000 pounds to 630,000 pounds. Even children above 12 years were also ordered to supply a quantity of cinnamon. People become very unhappy about this labour-exploitation.
1640	Dutch gives excuses to keep Colombo & Negombo-Sinhalese realizes for the 1st time that Dutch is fooling them	Dutch hands over Battie & Trinco to Kandy but keep Galle & Negombo with them in order to make monopoly on trade. The excuse is given as the cost of war being not paid fully. Sinhalese get mad.
1640	Village headman must be a Christian	Dutch impose this rule after realizing there are enough applicants for the job.
1650	British & Danish trade ships begin trade thru Trinco- But they are reluctant to fight the Dutch	Dutch admiral in Colombo badly wants to put an end to this, but is advised by Batavia not to wage war until areas are fully consolidated. Kandy king takes interest to establish contacts with the new foreigners. Dutch wants to win Kandy king to their side. Kandy king do not get good feedback from the new foreigners who are reluctant about the cost of taking on the Dutch militarily.
1656	In May, Sinhala army & Dutch win Colombo
1658	Sinhala Army & Dutch take Jaffna from Portuguese.
1658	At the end of campaign on Portuguese, Dutch cheats Sinhalese by giving a huge war bill - War with Dutch begins	After wrapping up the Portuguese the Dutch forward a staggering final bill to king of Kandy. They had undervalued the income from spices, (cinnamon, areca nut mainly), elephants, and land revenue. King decides to go hostile, realizing the cunningness of the Europeans. Sinhala army mounts raids in western province.
1659	Dutch Admiral Ryklof Van Goens is controlled by Batavia	Dutch admiral wants to go on the offensive & take the whole east coast from Kandy. He takes Kalpitiya, a port owned by Kandy king. But he is advised by Batavia to consolidate the areas first & not to wage war for further gains. He is advised to be in peace with Kandy king who might turn to the British or French or Danish for help. He gives Kalpitiya back to Kandy.
1659	Suggestions to move HQ from Batavia to Ceylon	Admiral Goen believes Ceylon is a better place than Batavia & that HQ should be here.
1660	4th April, 1660- Robert Knox is captured- He records the sorry tale of the Sinhalese who are struggling to maintain their principles in life against powerful and different invading elements	Kandy troops capture the crew of a British ship that came to Trinco. It includes the 19-year-old son of the captain. He will live 19 years as a captive and gives vivid account of the Sinhalese whom he doesn't like. He talks about the huge variety of vegetables they eat, long ages and the healthiness of Sinhalese, that everyone is a doctor for themselves, men are not jealous of their wives who has the freedom to associate other men as they please, husbands having enough servants and slaves for pleasure., how the trend the Portuguese set in had urged the kings, specially king Rajasinghe-2, to resort to inhuman cruelty to maintain power. How people had lost respect for the king, How Sinhalese were not discriminating to Catholics who lived among them believing everyone has a right to practice any religion etc.
1660	Kandy rescues Muslims again as Dutch chases them away from coastal business ventures	Threatened & chased away from the west, Kandy helps the Muslims to resettle in Batticaloa & Kandy. They are allowed to build mosques in two temple premises, at Pangollamada mosque in Degaldoruwa Vihara, Rambukandana mosque in Kurunegala Ridi Vihara. Muslims are allowed to be part of Kandyan society while preserving their identity.
1660	Re-establishing British monarchy & abolishing commonwealth	The so-called Commonwealth and Protectorate came to an end in 1660 when the monarchy was restored under Charles II, who turned England back to a course of moderate Protestantism.
1663	Dutch become the sole power in South Asia after capturing the last Portuguese forts along the Indian coasts.
1665	Shameful & Selfish request to Dutch by Rajasinghe-2 to crush Kandy rebellion by Ambanwala Rala	King Rajasinghe-2, whose cruelty has made him unpopular among people, seek Dutch help. Dutch takes maximum use of this golden opportunity. They consolidate the Kandyan territory that they wanted.
1665	Dutch doubles their area by helping the king; Foolish King is happy to continue rule	A happy Dutch admiral Goen places troops in ruwanvella and Bibilegama in order to expand deeper in to Kandyan land & encourage loyal Sinhalese families to move into new territory to install Dutch-friendly population that can help war into Kandy & to develop profits from the harvests of these friendly people. He increases naval patrols in the east grabbing Batticolo & Kottiyar bay. Dutch take over land up to Alavva near MahaOya. Thus, Kandy loses all major ports & the trade profits.
1667	Colombo Dutch is so sure of idiocy of Sinhala rulers, they even ignore Batavia’s advise	Unable to send reinforcements due to lack of manpower, Batavia advise the Dutch Governor in Colombo, Son of aging Admiral Goen, to offer Kandy the lands occupied in 1665 for peace. Senior Goen advise the son not to & the Offer is never made to Kandy.
1668	Meanwhile people become helpless as Dutch orders Cinnamon to be grown, Revolt against the Dutch in Kadawata against land rules	Dutch redistribute the lands among natives under orders to grow cinnamon in one third of every land. People who are used to prioritizing on Rice and vegetables get angry for having someone ordering them to grow something in huge quantities that they cannot eat. They are not happy by having to depend to get paid little for what they grow. In September 1668 people of Kadawata revolt against the Dutch rule.
1670	Revolt develops into south-west coast & Kottiyar, Trinco & Batticaloa	Rajasinghe help revolters hoping he could make a deal with the French who are establishing trade in the Indian coasts. The revolt develops to Batticoloa, Trinco & Kottiyar bay.
1670	Madhu Church is built	Is built by Helena, a daughter of a Portuguese general who wanted to place the statue of Mary that the fleeing Catholics were carrying away from the Dutch.
1671	French expedition arrives to meet Rajasinghe-2, but refuse to fight the Dutch due to high cost.	A French squadron under the command of Admiral DE La Haye arrive in Kottiyar bay. They hold talks with Rajasinghe-2 who is desperate to get their help at this crucial time of rebellion. French refuse, as it will be too costly to enter to war against the Dutch. The Dutch rushes in troops & force the French fleet out.
1675	Rebellion is crushed after 7 years	Dutch manage to win. They only lose Bibilegama, which remain in Kandyan hands.
1678	Senior Admiral Goen is promoted to Governor General in Batavia.
1681	Admiral Goen retires in Batavia	A sick & a broken man who is depressed he could not gain Kandy retires in Batavia. This enables the governor in Ceylon, Laurens Pyl to reconsider the peace offer that was never made.
1681	Dutch decide to hold back the offer as King is 80 & sick	As Rajasinghe-2 is sick in old age of 80, Dutch decide to wait & see who will succeed him. If he is a weak king the Dutch see no reason why the peace pact should be offered.
1681	Dutch resort to pretending to be humble till king dies. Many Ceylonese, who accepted the foreign rule, thus learn such tactics to be "not shameful" and normal.	A shrewd Dutch general kneel before the king Rajasinghe-2 describing how famous he is internationally for his valor, and royalty, they pretend friendliness and corporation which Kandy fall for. They open forts for limited trade for Kandy king, send gifts to the king & nobles, pretend to seek permission before they do things like sending peelers in to the forest for cinnamon peeling. Dutch manages to win the trust of Kandyans.
1687	Death of Rajasinghe-2: The last Sinhalese king the Dutch feared	After his death his son Vimaladarmasuriya-2 became king. He enjoys the humbleness & cooperation of the Dutch at first, but finally fall out in 2 years over Dutch crafty deals to hold monopoly of trade.
1687	Dutch helps the king with ships	As a tactic to keep Kandy happy, Dutch help to transport the new Bride for the king from Madurai (A Teligu speaking Nayakkar people who moved to Coramandel coast when the Muslims invaded), and also to bring Buddhist monks from Burma to revive Buddhism.
1687	People detest the King. New King try to win people who detest the father by Reviving Buddhism	King Vimaladarmasuriya try to win back the people who disliked his father's cruelty. He turns to religion, and builds a new 3-storey prasada for the tooth relic, revoke royal visit to Adam's peak.
1688	Dutch tricks Sinhalese by saying, "yes" to Vimaladarmasuriya-2's demand for the ports. Both sides have no strength to wage war.	In order to get rid of unfair monopoly of the Dutch who continue to thrive on the resources of the land, King demand for the ports. Dutch, reluctant to war, gives them, but resort to crafty tactics. They get their ports in India not to issue passports to ships other than those coming to Colombo, Galle & Jaffna that are held by the Dutch. Sinhala learn the lesson and reacts the only way they could, by closing roads, to stop Dutch getting raw materials from the Kandy areas. Neither side does not have power to resort to major war.
1689	Britain's balance between Parliament & monarchy power makes it a strong nation to conquer the world	During the political turmoil of the 17th century, Britain embraced a political doctrine that strengthened the country for centuries to come, and was passed on to the United States. At various times the Stuart kings had tried to rule without the support of parliament. In reaction, the members of parliament strengthened their claim for representative government, and they made good their claim that they alone had the power to levy taxes. A Bill of Rights adopted in 1689 guaranteed free elections and free parliamentary debates. The bill also restated traditional rights, including prohibitions against excessive bail or fines, and against cruel and unusual punishment. During the 1690s the English philosopher John Locke published several influential essays on government in which he claimed that the power of the rulers is based on the needs of the people. If a ruler abused that power, it was the right of the people to depose that ruler. This was a potent idea in Britain and her colonies, and in 1776 it found its way into the United States Declaration of Independence.
1690	Catholic missions start to receive Royal patronage in Kandy	A Roman catholic mission led by Father Joseph Vaz is allowed in to Kandy by the king Vimaladarmasuriya-2, who learns & respect the religion. He even appoints catholic officials to prove to the missionaries that there is no discrimination.
1690	The first Toot relic temple is built on the current site	Built by Vimaladarmasuriya-2, it has 3 story’s, the case made of silver & gold, ornamented with 8 stones of precious value.
1694	First Shortage of imported essentials in Ceylon; Result of European trade monopoly & neglect of agriculture	Export of spices, elephants, pearls, gems & the import of the pepper, cotton products, tin, zinc, minerals become a Dutch monopoly that shoot up prices & create shortages of food & clothing in Ceylon. Only the rice imports are not a monopoly. Dutch use warships to bring in food items that are in shortage. Smuggling businesses thrive. Until the restrictions are relaxed enabling private imports.
1694	Dutch reluctance to wage war fools Sinhalese who compare them with Portuguese	Dutch resort to business instead of territorial rule. Yet they turn to violence without hesitation if business is threatened. Sinhala, who thinks all white men are the same, fail to notice this difference between Portuguese and the Dutch. Some Sinhala think the Dutch are good and tempt to cooperate.
1706	Dutch is repeatedly advised by Batavia not to wage war on Kandy	Batavia constantly reminds Colombo not to get in to war with Kandy despite numerous civil unrests, which get support from Kandy. Batavia feels that the biggest weakness of Sinhala king's was Flattery. They advise Colombo to take maximum advantage on it. Also they buy cheap presents to nobles in Kandy who feel that they are well looked after. Dutch resort to business instead of territorial rule. Yet they turn to violence without hesitation if business is threatened. Sinhala, who thinks all white men are the same, fail to notice this difference between Portuguese and the Dutch. Some Sinhala think the Dutch are good and tempt to cooperate.
1707	4th June, 1707- Last Sinhala King - Sri Viraparakrama Narendrasinghe	After the death of VimalaSurendra-2, his son Sri Viraparakrama Narendrasinghe succeeds him. He also gets a bride from Madurai like his father. This bride's brother will succeed the king, as king does not have a child.
1708	The current Temple of the Tooth-relic is built	By King Narendrasinghe, last Sinhala king, .
1708	Oldest Kandy temple - Natha Devalaya	By King Narendrasinghe, last Sinhala king,
1710	Revival of Buddhism & literature	Under the excellent religious leadership of Saranamkara, a Buddhist samanera who lived an exemplary moral life, who was also a poet, a teacher and a speaker, who also gets kings blessings, rebuild and restore temples. They compose Saratthasamgha, an 11,000-section write-up of the true Buddhist doctrine, and several major compositions.
1710	Decline begins for the last Indian empire before the Europeans	Indian disunity following Last Mughal empire, allowed Europeans to gain power. Trading companies hired local soldiers, called sepoys, to protect their holdings. Led by European officers, these armies were so successful that local rulers began hiring European-led sepoy armies for their own ends. Rivalry developed between British and French forces. In a local extension of the Seven Years' War in Europe, the British defeated the French in 1763, paving the way for their political domination of India in the 19th century.
1726	Notorious Dutch Governor - Petrus Vuyst- interference with the judiciary, and framing charges on own Burgher officials	Notorious for his misuse of power, inhuman punishments, corruption, misrule comes to office in Colombo. He interferes with the judiciary, and frame charges on own officials and Burghers. Within 3 years, He is summoned to Batavia & executed for his crimes against the ruling class of locals.
1729	Governor gets death sentence-Corruption thrives among the Dutch officers	Smuggling of spices out & textiles in collaborating with Indian traders, occupying & selling, leasing unoccupied lands, decline in efficiency and administration was a serious concern to Batavia. In the worst case the governor is recalled & executed for corruption & malpractices.
1730	Ceylonese coffee is exported until Dutch stop it to enable their Java tea to grab the market	Coffee from Ceylon begins to export to India and Arab world thru independent merchants. Dutch discourage it as Javanese coffee begin worldwide export under the Dutch.
1730	Dutch force people to grow pepper & cardamoms	As they relied on Kandyan land for these, Dutch force farmers to cultivate them in low country.
1732	Dutch increase taxes on agriculture products, especially cinnamon. Dutch criticize local farming, but waste more in creating a Dutch dependant economy	In order to expand the income, the Dutch forces people into cinnamon peeling, which takes 8 months of the year inside forests. This lead to peasant unrest. People view it as too rigorous and unpleasant for the pittance the Dutch pay for the product. Dutch try to direct people from cultivations like henna saying it destroys the earth. But Dutch wastes more lands and forests by growing Cinnamon creating an economy that depends on Dutch money to survive. Kandy is quick to help peasants to revolt.
1733	Kandy prohibit Peeling of cinnamon & sale of elephants	In order to stop Dutch from gaining monopoly on trade of the two products.
1736	Fines for Children not attending Christian schools; New Dutch laws creates more civil unrest	Fines for children not attending Christian schools, increased taxes and many other unfair taxes lead to continuous civil disturbances. Kandy gives support.
1736	New Dutch Governors peace pact rejected both by Kandy & Batavia	New Dutch governor Baron Van Imhoff, offer of some trade concessions and 3 vessel loads of trade per year from Puttalam to India, both on goods which are not Dutch monopoly, is rejected both by Batavia & Kandy.
1736	Dutch Governor is advised against military option, to wait till the sick king dies	Dutch governor propose a quick military operation helped by Burghers and co-operating Sinhalese, to raid Kandy And take king prisoner. But Batavia rejects it as unnecessary, As the king is gravely sick & has no heir. Dutch expect anarchy soon, which will help them take Kandy easily.
1736	Van Imhoff become the only Dutch governor to encourage other plantations	He encourages people to resort to coffee, and pepper, coconut used for making arrack.
1736	Governor Van Imoff control corruption to a great extent	The widespread corruption by the officers themselves is controlled best by this governor.
1737	A printing press start publishing Christian propaganda in Colombo	They print in Sinhala and Tamil.
1739	Death of Last Sinhalese king - 13 th May, 1739	King Narendrasinghe dies with no one to succeed him. The fair and non-discriminatory ministers appoint Madurai queen's younger brother to the throne as Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe. He will rule according to the Buddhist philosophy.
1739	First Non-Sinhalese King - he rules for 8 years without disappointing Sinhala people	Sri Vijay Rajasinghe, a nayakkar become the king. He is the younger brother of the widowed queen. Nayakkar's speak Teligu. He remains religious and loyal to Sasana respecting the trust placed on him by the officials. He will not disappoint the Sinhalese who chose him. He brings a wife from Madura.
1740	Nayakkar Kings revival of Buddhism	He hold a huge festival of the tooth relic, sponsored Bikkus on their writing, and practices, temples were built, a festival of lamps where all temples in all towns, including samantakuta, Anuradapura, Mahiytanganaya, had offering of lamps - which was a magnificent festival of 796,600 lamps. Efforts to rebuild Anuradapura and Polonnaruwa met with big problems of dense jungle, malaria and lack of resources and not successful.
1740	Cinnamon prices doubles in Europe & Dutch demand only cinnamon to be cultivated. Low country now depends on the Dutch money.	Dutch quickly impose severe restrictions on use of land for anything other than Cinnamon. This lead to long-term consequences of shortage of rice and famine when people are deprived of export income. It creates a society that depends on the Dutch trade contacts. Even if Kandy takes over the low lands they have no way of feeding the people in low country, as they do not grow others in sufficient quantities.
1740	Proof of Ceylon's weapon-manufacturing	Five feet long, 0.55 caliber gun that uses a flint-lock, now in display in Windsor castle in Holland, is a classic proof of the good weapon-manufacturing art in Ceylon.
1741	Hoping the Nayakkar King will ignore, Catholic Missionaries start dirty tactics on Buddhists	The Portuguese missions started bribing to lure people. They publicly criticize Buddhism showing no respect, hoping new Nayakkar king will ignore the acts, But King ordered the dwellings of such organizations to be destroyed along with the books.
1742	Dutch help the King with ships	Dutch help the king to bring in monks from Thailand and Burma to revive Buddhism.
1743	"You dirty missionaries are responsible for several disasters" First Nayakkar king persecute Christian Churches	Noticing certain religious missions are involved in unpatriotic, competing and predatory tactics, king persecute several Christian missions who he says are responsible for several disasters that the country could not avoid.
1743	Dutch ban all religions except Calvinism.	All major religions incl. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Roman Catholism are banned.
1743	Government jobs are offered to Calvinists, increasing the number of enrollers	From 53219 it increases to over 200,000 by 1758 in just 15 years. In Jaffna alone there are 37 churches.
1745	Dutch appoints Muhandirams to rule villages	These headmen in villages collected taxes and maintained planning of labour services, and control of the villagers under the Dutch.
1746	British finds out Trinco is the safest harbour in the region.	British eastern fleet uses Trinco to shelter during Monsoon storms for the first time & realize it is the safest harbour in the region to take shelter.
1747	First public display of anti-Christian feelings	Sinhalese begin to realize the aggressive expansion methods of the Christianity, which the Colombo supports. Kandyan public rises up in protest to stop erection of a church and a catholic school.
1747	Death of first Nayakkar King- Sri Vijay Rajasinghe	11th august 1747, first Nayakkar king died after 8 years of rule.
1747	World's biggest Esala Perahera start in Kandy	The biggest Esala Perahera in the world today is held in August. It was held when the tooth relic was first brought in during Anuradapura era in 301 AD.
1747	Classic example of Buddhist tolerance even amidst so much hostility; Nayakkar king orders Hindu temples to take part in Perahera	In order to show religious tolerance, The Nayakkar king orders the 4 Hindu Kovils in Kandy, who has a reputation of predominant religious activity, to participate in the Perahera. This tradition continues even today. Showing the tolerance and the openness of Buddhists, the 4 Hindu Devales get the honour of leading the Perahera with the procession from Dalada Maligawa following them.
1747	Second Nayakkar King - Kirti Sri Rajasinghe rule for 35 years	Another brother of the same Nayakkar queen of the last Sinhalese king, become king after his own brother's death as Kirti Sri Rajasinghe.
1749	2nd Nayakkar king, to improve Buddhism, seek for help from Thailand again. He cleans the Sasanaya by disrobing bad monks.	On advise from many wise people and monks, He cleans the sasana by disrobing ill-disciplined monks who had resorted to astrology and sorcery. Realizing that there aren't enough Bikkus to ensure the safety of Buddhism, King sends a delegation to King Dammika of Thailand thru Dutch ships. Thai king is deeply moved by the state in Ceylon and send handpicked learnt Bikkus, books, statues. Efforts to rebuild Anuradapura and Polonnaruwa met with big problems of dense jungle, malaria and lack of resources and not successful. But he repairs all temples in Kandy kingdom.
1749	King builds the present stone wall around Sri Maha Bodiya & A'pura people dare the jungles to protect it.	A'pura deserted, but pious people still dare to visit & look after the place, wild elephants threaten to topple the tree, people, mainly A’pura people, collect firewood in rosters & bring them in columns of processions to scare away the wild animals, & light them up every night around the tree area. Under supervision of Attadassi Thero, kings orders the new wall to be built, 10 ft high, 5 ft wide, 338 ft long N to S, 274 long e to w,
1752	3000 young men become monks	King participates in an Esala full moon poyaday ceremony where the Thai monks and the good Ceylonese monks hold a massive ceremony of admission in Kandy. Thai monks hold lectures and classes. They visit the 16 sacred places in Ceylon. New temples and monasteries are built.
1760	Sinhala Revolt against New Dutch Laws	A violent pretest spread in low countries against the Dutch against new rules by Governor Jan Schreuder.
1760	Dutch introduce laws to Sinhalese who needed no laws due to fine Sinhala principles and Buddhist philosophy	Noticing that the Sinhalese do not have laws written (unlike the Tamils having Thesavalami, and Muslims having the Islamic law) Dutch force Roman Dutch Law on Sinhalese that control registry of marriage, monogamy, inheritance of property, Sinhalese detest these laws. They have practiced their good principles and philosophy for centuries.
1761	Kandy invades low country to help the revolt	Kandyan army helped by the protestors takes Matara and Hanwella forts. Dutch advance to Kandy but are driven back.
1761	Nationalist Conspiracy in Kandy
1762	Dutch capture Chilaw & Puttalam
1763	Dutch expedition is beaten in Kandy	Dutch is beaten in guerilla war.
1764	Kandy starts talks with the British	KirtiSriRajasinghe, 2nd Nayakkar king, started talks with the Madras based English East India Co. British already have access to Trinco in an agreement with the Dutch. British only interested in the coastal supremacy and reluctant to give anything to Kandy.
1765	The Dutch launches the biggest offensive ever using Javaka troops	Angered by Kandyans talks with the British, Dutch make decision to take Kandy. Governor Baron Van Eck attack Kandy from 2 fronts. He himself led an army from Colombo, and win Galagedara. Another front from Puttalam reach Katugastota.
1765	Dutch takes the 1745 Cannon from Kandy	Dutch captures from Kandy, a Cannon locally made & presented to King in 1745, & Dutch governor gift it to an Aristocrat in Holland. This is still on display in Raix museum in Holland.
1765	Kandy falls to the Dutch: Dutch destroys the beautiful Kandy temple.	The invaders destroy beautiful Rajamaha Vihara on Mahaveli Ganga. Kandy king Kirti Sri Rajasinghe flees; Tooth relic is captured by the enemy on the way to the mountains & taken to Colombo. After 3 weeks in Kandy, Governor Eck comes to Colombo & dies of disease in a few days. Meanwhile Kandyans surround the Dutch army in Kandy.
1766	Dutch troops in Kandy die of Starvation & disease	Hit by famine & cut off by the Sinhala Army the Dutch begin to take casualties.
1766	Kandyan kingdom is hit by famine due to war	Years of gradual neglect on agriculture, and dependence on imports and income on export create a famine during the war in Kandy.
1766	Using famine as a tactic, Dutch fools the king into an unfair peace pact	Dutch governor Falck manages to get the king into a good deal favorable to the Dutch. Kandy loses all coastal areas & will depend on Dutch discretion to trade. Kandy gets cut-off completely from the sea. Dutch is happy that the king can no longer freely communicate with foreign powers.
1766	Dutch try now to cultivate rice due to shortage	Decades of neglect cause rice shortages and price hikes. Rice is imported from India already.
1766	Urubokka Dam by the Dutch -Only irrigation project since Polonnaruwa era	Dutch build the dam in order to boost rice production in the area after realizing that importing rice is not a cost-effective idea. They also do a second irrigation project In Akkaraipattu.
1770	Proof of a large dagaba in Athchuveli	Phillipus Baldaeus-a Dutch living in Jaffna for 9 years speaks of a great pagoda in Atchuveli, where the Portuguese army beat the Last Sinhala army unit in the peninsula.
1770	James Cook lands on Australia & discovers Aborigine’s. They are surprised that the locals were not interested in the gifts and trade goods that the crew offered them. It was ship's botanist who suggests it should be developed as a colony.	In April 1770 James Cook and his crew, on the Endeavor, sighted the east coast of Australia, becoming the first Europeans to do so. A few days later the ship sailed into a large bay to collect fresh water. The ship's botanist, Joseph Banks, collected so many samples of plants unknown to European science that Cook named the place Botanist's Bay, later shortened to Botany Bay. Cook noted that the inhabitants, although very poor in material wealth, seemed contented as they were, and were not interested in the gifts and trade goods that the crew offered them. It was Joseph Banks who later recommended to the British government that Botany Bay should be developed as a European settlement and a penal colony.
1781	Britain declares war on Dutch	War breaks out between them for supremacy & Dutch bars British ships from entering Trinco.
1782	Second nayakkar King, Kirti Sri Rajasinghe falls off the horse & dies	After ruling for 35 years without disappointing the Sinhalese, he dies without an heir.
1782	January- British captures Trinco from the Dutch	In January 1782, Dutch lose Trinco to the British. British will lose it in 7 months to the French
1782	August - French captures Trinco from the British	British become desperate to re-capture Trinco, as it is a safe harbour during the monsoon storms between Oct & April. British eastern Fleet used this port to shelter 15 out of 40 monsoons between 1746-1795.
1782	Third Nayakkar King - Rajadi Rajasinghe	Younger brother of the last king take over & continue in the good religious ways improving Buddhism.
1782	Non-Sinhalese King writes a Jataka Poem	Though being Non-Sinhalese, the 3rd Nayakkar king, in the footsteps of his 2 brothers before him learn & have thorough respect & knowledge of Buddhism. He writes a poem named Asadisa Jatakaya.
1782	At last a King questions the real motives of foreign delegations, in the second British arrival	A second British diplomatic mission arrives in Kandy seeking help to feed their army fighting to take Trinco from the French in return for military support against the Dutch. King with wisdom, ask them to produce more convincing proof of good faith before agreeing to any treaty.
1785	Dutch Governor’s request to invade Kandy is refused by Batavia (Dutch power is so weak)	De Graaf, the new Dutch governor see how he could dominate all trade if Kandy is taken. But his proposal is rejected by Batavia who warns that there are no resources left to wage war of that caliber. He is asked to maintain false friendly relationship.
1789	Fierce rebellion in Matara against the Dutch	Angered by the Dutch pushes to increase production people rise up in anger.
1789	Power-hungry Pilimatalawe passes information to the Dutch	On his intelligence, the Dutch intercepts a letter king was sending to the British requesting a deal with the French to oust the Dutch.
1790	Governor De Graaf resigns in protest as Batavia advised him to slow down	As the rebellion spread to Chilaw and Puttalam, Batavia advise the governor De Graaf to slow down in his too harsh laws.
1795	British take Trinco, Jaffna & Batticoloa in August, 1795 without resistance from the Dutch
1796	Third British delegation arrives in Kandy & innocent king falls into the trap by believing their lies and deceit.………..	Led by Robert Andrews they arrive in good time when King was very unhappy with the Dutch for their desperate attempts to keep monopoly. British offer an outlet for Kandy to obtain salt & fish, and to operate 10 ships. King wants more ports and an assurance that the Dutch areas do not fall into British control. But British really seeks only a resistance of the king that will keep at least some of the Dutch troops tied down enabling the British to beat the Dutch with the least casualties. They also frighten the king about the fall of the monarchs giving French revolution as an example, & shows that only the British can help monarchs around the globe.
1796	15 th Feb, 1796, British take Colombo & Ceylon from the Dutch without resistance & breaks the promise given to Sinhalese who are faced with the most powerful enemy in the world now.	British Navy advances along the coast to Negombo, & then on foot they cross Kelaniya river to reach Colombo. They humiliate the Sinhala army from Kandy that came to help by sending them back saying they are not needed. British also send the Sinhala army that took Matara from the Dutch on the 2nd February back within 22 days. The British had used Kandy only to tie the Dutch troops in forts. Thus the joint elements of British East India co. & British Govt. took the entire coastline and the land 20 miles interior. Kandy is faced with the most powerful enemy in the world now.

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