Dutch Ceylon

Governorate of Ceylon
Nederlands-Ceylon (Dutch)
ලන්දේසි ලංකාව (Sinhala)
landēsi lankāva
ஒல்லாந்து சிலோன் (Tamil)
Ollānta ilankai
1640–1796
Flag of Dutch Ceylon
Flag
of Dutch Ceylon
Coat of arms
Anthem: Het Wilhelmus
("The William")
  Dutch control areas (1689–1796)
  The Kingdom of Kandy
StatusGovernorate of the Dutch East India Company
CapitalGalle (1640–1658)
Colombo (1658–1796)
Common languagesDutch (official)
Sinhala
Tamil
GovernmentColonial government
Governor 
• 1640
Willem Jacobszoon Coster
• 1794–1796
Johan van Angelbeek
Historical eraImperialism
• Established
13 March 1640
• Disestablished
16 February 1796
CurrencyDutch Guilder
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Portuguese Ceylon
Kingdom of Sitawaka
Kingdom of Kandy
British Ceylon

Dutch Ceylon (Sinhala: ලන්දේසි ලංකාව; Tamil: ஒல்லாந்த இலங்கை) was a governorate established in present-day Sri Lanka by the Dutch East India Company. Although the Dutch managed to capture most of the coastal areas in Sri Lanka, they were never able to control the Kingdom of Kandy located in the interior of the island.[1] Dutch Ceylon existed from 1640 until 1796.

In the early 17th century, Sri Lanka was partly ruled by the Portuguese and partly by Sri Lankan (primarily of Sinhalese origin) kingdoms, who were constantly battling the Portuguese. Although the Portuguese were not winning the war, their rule was oppressive to the people of those areas controlled by them. While the Portuguese were engaged in a long war of independence from Spanish rule, the Sinhalese king (the king of Kandy) 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.

  1. ^ "Sri Lanka – Kingdom of Kandy – 1476–1818".

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