Grade 9 History: Coastal Sri Lanka & British Power

• Grade 9 History on Coastal Areas of Sri Lanka and British Power

Capture of Coastal Areas of Sri Lanka by the Dutch

• The Kandyan Kings had realized that naval power was needed
• King Rajasinghe II then sought Dutch support against the Portuguese.
• The Dutch broke their agreement after ousting the Portuguese.
• The Dutch established power in former Portuguese-held areas
• By 1658, the Dutch ruled Sri Lanka's coasts.
• The Dutch ruled the areas until 1796.
• The chapter looks at the Dutch rule, the Kandyan Kingdom relationship, and key political, economic and cultural features.

Dutch Arrival in Asia

• In the 16th century, the Dutch traded spices and items from Portugal's Lisbon Harbour.
• Holland was then a Spanish colony.
• Religious differences existed between the Spanish (Catholic) and the Dutch (Protestant).
• The Dutch rebelled against Spain for independence.
• King Phillip II of Spain, who also ruled Portugal, banned Dutch access to Lisbon Harbour.
• The Dutch had to go to Asia to get spices directly.

Dutch East India Company

• The Portuguese prevented other Europeans from accessing sea routes to Asia for about a century.
• Only trusted Dutch, English, and French individuals could come to Asia aboard Portuguese ships.
• The Dutch discovered the sea route to Asia around 1595.
• By 1602, Dutch Trade Companies reached Asia, and competition rose.
• None of the Dutch companies had legal authority in Asia.
• Dutch rulers formed the Dutch East India Trade Company (VOC) in 1602
• The company had royal authority from the Dutch government to trade, conquer, build fortresses, appoint governors, and govern in Asia.
• After 1602, the VOC Company stabilized and sent ship fleets to Asia.
• The Dutch established a headquarters in Batavia on Java Island, and established power in East Asia and coastal India.
• The Dutch fought the Portuguese to build trade power in the Indian Ocean.

Kandyan Kings Seek Dutch Support

• In 1602, Admiral Joris Van Spilbergen arrived on Sri Lanka's east coast and landed in Batticaloa.
• Spilbergen met King Wimaladharmasuriya I in Kandy in July 1602.
• The King was disappointed by the Portuguese.
• The King then agreed to support the Dutch to drive out the Portuguese.
• Three months after Spilbergen, Captain Seebald de Weert met the King and discussed driving out the Portuguese.
• De Weert spoke disrespectfully, causing a dispute leading to his death.
• The King lost hope of Dutch support.
• King Senarath then had talks with two Dutch delegations, which yielded no results.

Treaty Between King Rajasinghe II and the Dutch

• After King Senarath, King Rajasinghe II wanted to oust the Portuguese.
• He sought Dutch support and discussed terms with representatives in Batavia.
• The King offered the Dutch cinnamon trade ownership and a harbor on Sri Lanka's east coast.
• The agreement was made in return for Dutch help against the Portuguese.
• The king did not want another European power to take the place of the Portuguese.
• The King's and Dutch armies surrounded the Portuguese fortress in Batticaloa.
• Following attacks, the Portuguese were driven out.
• King Rajasinghe II then signed an agreement with the Dutch in May 1638.

Key Points of the 1638 Treaty

• The Dutch agreed to support the King of Kandy to remove the Portuguese.
• The King agreed to provide the Dutch with cinnamon, pepper, and beeswax to cover war expenses versus the Portuguese.
• The Dutch were granted a monopoly on collecting commodities from Kandyan areas, excluding elephants.
• The Dutch army would be deployed at captured Portuguese fortresses if the King wished it.

Battles Against Portuguese and Dutch Power

• Twenty years after the 1638 treaty, the Portuguese were driven out.
• The Dutch and Kandyan armies captured Portuguese fortresses in Trincomalee, Negombo, Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Mannar, and Jaffna.
• After Trincomalee and Negombo were captured, controversies emerged about fortress control.
• The Dutch did not hand over strategically advantageous fortresses, violating the agreement.
• The Dutch had been deceptive from the start.
• The 1638 Treaty stated the Dutch army should deploy in captured fortresses only if the King of Kandy wished, but this was ignored.
• The Dutch deployed armies without consulting the King.
• The Dutch kept Negombo and Galle due to cinnamon growth.
• As a result, the King refused to pay fortress worker salaries.
• The Dutch would not hand over fortresses until the King paid expenses.
• This disagreement intensified.
• King Rajasinghe II showed patience and needed Dutch support.
• A Dutch army led by General Gerard Hulft arrived.
• The Dutch army positioned artillery around Colombo Fort.
• King Rajasinghe sent a large army to help.
• The Portuguese surrendered to the Dutch.
• The Dutch took over Colombo Fort, another violation of the 1638 agreement.
• King Rajasinghe was annoyed.
• In 1658, the Dutch captured Mannar and Jaffna Fort, ending Portuguese rule in coastal Sri Lanka.
• The Dutch retained captured fortresses.
• The King minimized areas of Dutch capture.
• The King attached areas formerly under Portuguese rule to the Kandyan Kingdom.
• The areas captured by the Dutch were less than the Portuguese held.
• Bringing in a similar European power created the Sinhala proverb Inguru dee miris gaththa wage, comparing it to exchanging ginger for chili.

Relations Between Dutch and Kandyan Kingdom

• The Dutch had relatively healthy relationships with the Kandyan Kingdom.
• The Portuguese were aggressive towards the Kandyan Kingdom.
• The English captured the Kandyan Kingdom quickly.
• The Dutch maintained peaceful relations through missions and communication from 1658 to 1796.
• The Dutch still invaded the Kandyan Kingdom when they had the chance.
• Relations between the Dutch and Kandyan kings changed.

Relations Between King Rajasinghe II and the Dutch

• King Rajasinghe II brought in the Dutch.
• From 1638 to 1658, captured areas were not handed over as promised, so controversies arose.
• Dutch policies from 1658 to 1675 ignored the Kandyan Kingdom's power.
• The Dutch captured Kandyan Kingdom areas on the east and west coasts to surround the Kandyan Kingdom.
• King Rajasinghe II began attacking the Dutch after 1670.
• They lost areas captured after 1658.
• King Rajasinghe's attacks showed the Dutch the Kandyan Kingdom's military might.
• The Dutch formulated new policies and tried to maintain peaceful relationships.

Kandyan – Dutch Diplomatic Relations

• Diplomatic ties arose between King Wimaladharmasuriya I and the Dutch.
• During King Rajasinghe II's reign, eight Dutch emissaries met him.
• General Gerard Hulft's 1656 meeting with King Rajasinghe II was significant.
• The Portuguese had not been driven out and controversies existed.
• The Dutch emissary was welcomed respectfully and escorted in colorful processions.
• The king was pleased by the civilities.
• After King Rajasinghe II, diplomatic meetings occurred in the reigns of Kings Wimaladharmasuriya II, Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe and Sri Wijayarajasinghe.
• Diplomatic actions occurred amid Dutch controversies and relationship decline.
• Communications were handed to kings, and king's reps visited the low country to meet Dutch leaders.
• During diplomatic representation, gifts were exchanged, cordiality was shown, requests were made and issues discussed.
• As the Dutch governor and king rarely met, diplomatic missions and communications were key to understanding views.
• King Rajasinghe II called himself "Emperor of Sri Lanka" in communications.
• The Dutch referred to him as "Three Sinhaladheeshwara."
• Kings addressed them as "Dear Dutchmen at my service" and the Dutch closed with "Your obedient servant."

Dutch & Kandyan Gifts & Diplomacy

• The King gave flags taken from the Portuguese, two horses, Persian bows/arrows, sandalwood, Persian sheep, and other animals
• In return, the Dutch gave a gold chain, a ring, and a shoe holder made of gold

Peace Policy and Conflict Avoidance

• After 1687, King Wimaladharmasuriya II became king, maintaining peaceful relationships with the Dutch.
• The King Provided Dutch ships to bring Upasampada Bhikkus (ordained monks) from Burma and lifted the ban on the Dutch peeling Cinnamon in Pitigal Korale.
• The Dutch Company agreed to buy the king’s cinnamon, areca nut, and elephants.
• King Sri Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe, known as 'Prince of Kundasaale' succeeded him.
• Incidents damaged the previously peaceful relationships.
• The king traded areca nut, elephants and ivory to India through Kalpitiya and Puttalam harbours.
• Viewing this as a loss, the Dutch closed harbors and disrupted the Kandyan kingdom's trade.
• In response, the king banned elephant transport through the Kandyan areas, preventing people from selling cinnamon, spices, and food to the Dutch.
• People under Dutch rule were disappointed due to excessive taxation and cinnamon peeler mistreatment
• Riots erupted in Dutch-controlled areas, and the Dutch suppressed them.
• Sri Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe followed tradition, getting a South Indian princess of the Nayakkar Dynasty as chief queen.
• The Nayakkar Dynasty settled in Kandyan areas, gaining high government positions.
• Their power increased.
• In 1739, King Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe died without sons, so a Nayakkar brother became King Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe, marking the end of King Wimaladharmasuriya I's royal line.

Dutch Invasion of Kandyan Kingdom

• After King Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe, his Nayakkar Queen's brother, King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, took measures to uplift the deteriorated Buddha Sasana.
• Ven. Welivita Saranankara Thero gave King advice.
• The king requested ships from the Dutch.
• A delegation was sent to Siam to bring Upasampada.
• Ven. Upali Thero's group of monks established Upasampada in Lanka in 1753, starting the present Siam Sector.
• Conflicts occurred between the Kandyan Kingdom and the Dutch around 1762.
• The King wanted another nation's support to fight the Dutch who then invaded the Kandyan Kingdom under Governor Baron Van Eck.
• However, Kandyans prevented all brigades from reaching the city.
• The Kandyan army, using its fight strategies, forced the Dutch to retreat after defeat.
• The Dutch invaded again in 1765, suffering heavy losses
• In February 1765, the king fled to Hanguranketha.
• But the Dutch withdrew due to diseases and Kandyan forces.
• After years of conflict, the king sought peace.
• The conduct of the Nayakkar kings disappointed Kandyan aristocrats and Buddhist monks.

The 1766 Treaty Summary

• The king sent envoys to the Dutch to negotiate peace leading to Dutch Governor Willem Falck to set conditions
• The king accepted these conditions, signing a 25-clause treaty in 1766.
• Jaffna, Mannar, Kalpitiya, Colombo, Galle Korale and Trincomalee belonged to the Dutch.
• A Sinhalese gawwa inland from the coast belonged to the Dutch.
• The Kandyan Kingdom was isolated.
• Realizing this mistake, the king asked the Dutch to return coastal areas but they refused, solidifying their power and developing agriculture and cinnamon cultivation.
• Controversy persisted after the 1766 treaty; the Dutch violated the agreement by banning salt to areas under the king's rule causing difficulties for the Kandyan people.
• In 1782, King Rajadhirajasinghe succeeded King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe.
• Dutch rule ended with the English arrival in 1796.

Dutch Administration

• The Board of Directors of the VOC Company in Holland decided on matters for Dutch-ruled areas in Asia.
• In 1609, a VOC Governor was then appointed to rule Batavia with an Advisory Council.
• After Dutch power was established in coastal Sri Lanka, the Trade Company appointed a governor and council of Dutch officers.
• This Dutch Governor could seek advice from Holland, but could also make independent calls because travelling took a long time
• The Dutch governor and council ruled and handled administration, taxes, officers and land grants on the decisions of the advisory council.
• The Dutch divided controlled areas into three commanderies.
  • The Colombo Commandery was governed by the Dutch governor. It included the Coastal and inland locations like Colombo, Kalutara, Negombo, Hanwella, Anguruwathota, and Malwana, had citadels.
  • The Galle Commandery was looked after by a commodore. It included the coastal areas from Bentara River up to Batticaloa and the inland areas.
  • Finally the Jaffna Commandery also administered by a commodore included the coastal belt from Puttalam North to Jaffna. Including areas up to Batticaloa in the east coast.

Dutch Administration Structure

• Commodores should act under the Colombo governor.
• However, they were able to act independently.
• The Civil administration, military, and trade were separated.
• Civil administration included a Dissavani under each commandery which itself was divided into Korales and Paththus.
• Mudalis and Vidanes were in charge of services which were overseen by the Dissawe which was in charge of the Dissavani.
• Armies were manned by Captains, and trade included Opper Hueman which was like a senior trader and then Hueman who was in charge of land revenue.

The Judicial System

• The Roman-Dutch law was inherited
• The Dutch system used existing juridical institutes.
• Raad Van Justitie (High Court) was the highest court headed by a Huft Administar hear criminal cases, present in all 3 commanderies.
• Civiele Raad (Civil Court) was made in Colombo, Galle and Jaffna from the start for civil cases relating to damages below 120 Rix dollars and marriage.
• Land Raads or Land Courts were made in Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Matara, was headed by a Dissave for Land courts, and was considered easy/cheap.
• Fiscal/Dissave/Headman Courts lowest level, local officers such as village headman, Vidane, Mudali, and Korala had judicial power and put traditional Jaffna area rules into practice.

Dutch Economy

• The Dutch maximized economic benefits and favored high-quality Sri Lankan cinnamon and promoted its planting/trading.
• Cinnamon handling was entrusted to a captain who managed a Mahabadde Department.
• Labour rosters were applied to cinnamon, and a peeler register was made.
• Annually, peelers had to peel cinnamon for the Company earning it huge trading profits.
• Besides cinnamon, areca nut, pearl, ivory, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, elephants and beeswax were important.
• The Portuguese land register called Thombu, became regularized, into family, land and school Thombus. With village families stored in the family thombus, land details in the Land and childrens details in the school.

Land thombus: Example

• Domagahawatta island belonging to Dan Bastian Appuhamy contained 195 coconut trees. And collected 01 River-dollar and 24 Stiver in Tex.
• People land/cultivation data extracted through registers meant the taxes.
• Rice/textile imports are kept at a minimum.
• Raw materials are generated with arrangements to bring Muthurajawela under cultivation.
• Increasing rice production through Yodha/Kantale are improved to make them more productive.
• Sugarcane, Cardamom, Peppercorns, and indigo get improved.
• Weaving drying cloth and making brick industries are developed.
• Canals for transport like the Hamilton channel in Colombo were built.

Dutch culture

• The protestanists spread religious works after capturing the coastal areas.
• They brought clergymen from Holland to convert people and used education as one of their tools to do this.
• Schools were stablished to promote the faith and attendance was compulsory. Education was originally offered in the mothers tongue of the pupil, with religious prayer being offered. Subjects like music and other languages were taught and they were supervised by a team of officers.
• The children of the officers were provided segregated educations in the local language or the seminary in Colombo. The main goal was the shift to Protestantism.
• Bibles were printed for the first time in 1739 and distributed across Lanka to spread Christian religion.

Dutch impact

• Dutch influence impacted Sri Lanka is still present because they ruled for 138 years
• Roman architect was followed with houses, stairs and columns.
• Cake Pickels and cookies were introduced.
• The judicial system adopted was imported.
• And Burghers joined Sri Lankan society.
• Languages saw additions of Tamil and Sinhala, adding words such as notary upstairs, school beams and office buildings.

British Power in Sri Lanka

• The English followed the Portuguese and Dutch in coming to Sri Lanka.
• British rule started in 1796 with the capture of Dutch coastal areas.
• English captured the Kingdom of Kandy too, and made the entire country a British colony.
• The English had a 133-year impact on the history of this country, until 1948.

British arrival

• In 1498 India was colonized in 1505 - Sri Lanka was colonized in 1700 after this. At first the English seemed to have no interest until after the 18th century passed.
• Reasons to colonize Sri Lanka was strategic in location, Trincomalee Harbour and Trade.

Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean

• Sri Lanka is an island which makes it one of the top reason too colonize Sri Lanka. The British had its power is the east and west which makes Sri Lanka like a great for protection.
• For naval power is makes it great to control the Indian Ocean.
• The location meant they were set to control both trade routes.

Trade for activities

• Many Items such as cinnamon, spices, elephants, pearl and Gems where high in quality, making it important.
• And that England could make great markets to the east for trade.

British Trade

• The coastal where controlled due to Sri Lankan issues with the Dutch
• Royal's sought support from colonizers
• John Pybus visiting King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe happened 1762
• Hugh Boyd visiting King Rajadhirajasinghe happened 1782
• Hugh Boyd visiting King Rajadhirajasinghe happened 1795 At first there was a truce with the colonies but then with the support of the king the Dutch forts were captured. England made the area's subject to the east to take what coastal was left for the country.
• Kew's letter was denied, but then the English military launched a series of attacks. The end result was the capturing the all area's.
• For the coastal areas it was captured between 1796 until the Kandyan Kingdom was captured in 1815

Coastal Control

• 1796-1798 under East India company rule.
• 1798-1802 where under dual control.
• 1802 own wards where under British Crown rule.
• Coastal people oppressing led to riot in 1798
• 1798-1802 divided in trades and British governor, this lead to failure since the government was not united
• The British government terminated its charter of the trade company in 1802 establishing them as colony

The Invasion

• There has been attempts on the kingdom that year was an utter failure. However, by 1815 lost faith and English could achieve their goal. The English where not happy there where to governing bodies so Fredrick North tried to take over -Fredrick north try to take control and people where not happy about this. So they support for riots. In between Colombo and the English felt threatened by the French with the King Sri Vickrama Rajasinghe throne they gave English protection. They made Sri Vickrama agree but he denied these requests.

McDowall

• North sent an army led by General McDowall.
• As the army marched to Colombo and Trincomalee entered to city of Kandy. But since King Sri had hidden the other royal leaders refused to accept Muththusamy for fear that this may give the English more control. So later the royals attached blocking off supply routes, starving the soldiers, so the English agreed to retreat but couldn't due to road blocks they where captured giving his crown resulted in 1803 ending in defeat for the English.

Thomas Maitland

• Thomas realize so he could never work with the king so be kept tabs on all leaders of Kandy through internal chaos, and appointed a skillful leader called called John.

Internal issues caused the fall

• John gained connection with low people and important nobles. And because he was gifted in communicating in Sinhala even the military secrets what uncovered meaning the English where closer to winning,
• political powers shifts, the soliderly between British and kandayian began to slip away

Arguments

• Nobility where in great dispute the the King due to his new laws on taxes and the new Nayakkar the duties that had been assigned to some of the aristocrats were assigned by king to his Nayakkar relatives.
• The king inflicted punishments to aristocrats who harassed or ill-treated citizens.
• Death penalty was imposed on Pilimathalawwe Maha Adhikaram who supported him to become king and due increase authority.

Power Shift

• Dissawa was divided into smaller ones adding new royalty. E.g After the death of Pilimathalawwe, Ehelepola was appointed to the vacant position of Maha Adhikarama, and Molligoda, who was an opponent of Ehelepola, was appointed to a lower Adhikarama position.

Religious Issues

• Some Bhikkus what where treason where killed
• the royalty has little concern for the religious relic
• The Bhikkus though royalty may try to remove key relic's to the state

Nobility

• Since disagreement between important nobility unity was broken

Issues with Royalty and others

• The royalty because less likeable.
• They curbed riots with cruelly.
• They punished Ehelepola's family
• The king where know to disrespected.
• Since things in 1803 and 1815 where bad in terms of the social economic statis. Robert Brownringg though that was was an attempt to over take English power, and John Doly though Ehelepoa for help. Because of this the English are invaded
• 1818 is when the king was captured due to help of 234

Figures

• Queen Ranganmaa, left Kandy since things was to bad with a squad of 8 brigades left. As they entered to city without issues, the king fled with two of his queen, where captured and placed in a Doly prison
• Then in 1802 he died where every. the kandyan came to a term.
• The arrest came from the British
• English what got royalty support

March 2 was when the royalty was captured but before capturing the king. Where Sri was captures they lowered is flag and the English flag.

Flag Issue

• In legend its said that Wariayapola Sri Sumangala Thero took the English banner and put back the Sri Lankan one. Robert and George took responsibility. But to agree on the king that was arrested to have him sign his rights away with 12 steps.

Steps

• King Sri was ousted
• Royal position was restricted
• The positions what stayed was tradition

1818 - Revolts

With the changes that took place in the administration system the people began felt the change and expressed there right to grieves and find relief. So what happen was the king of Britain became the king. People where un happy with this new leader, a state of anarchy in effect

• English where marched on the city and their language customs and etiquette which was not their
• income as change because of of the taxes. So the people revolted.

Reasons

• The disappointment to a new leader
• To protect Buddhism
• The way British did law affected everything
• Safety was a question.

So people got read with the leadership some of these people include;

• Keppetipola Nilame
• Madugalle Dissawa