[4] The Portuguese and Dutch had held some of the maritime provinces of the island for centuries before the advent of the British Empire.

[8] Most of those who retained close ties with the Netherlands departed with the establishment of British Ceylon as a crown colony at the end of the 18th century.

[6] During British rule, they occupied a highly important place in Sri Lankan social and economic life.

It was not the policy of the Dutch East India Company to endorse similar unions, although unofficial liaisons between its employees and local women occurred in the late eighteenth century.

Because of this definition, Burghers almost always have European surnames (mostly of Portuguese, Dutch and British origin, but sometimes German, French or Russian).

However, they permitted a few stateless persons of Portuguese-Jewish (Marrano) descent, and of mixed Portuguese-Sinhalese ancestry to stay.

The VOC employed not only Dutch nationals but also enlisted men from the Southern Netherlands, the German states, Denmark and Austria.

Dutch Ceylon had two classes of people of European descent: those who were paid by the VOC and were referred to as Company servants (i.e. employees), and those who had migrated of their own free will.

Reportedly about 900 families, both free citizens and Dutch East India Company employees, decided to remain in Ceylon.

One condition of them being allowed to stay was that they had to sign a treaty of capitulation, which guaranteed they would remain loyal and not defect if the Dutch attempted to re-conquer Ceylon.

In diplomatic negotiations in Europe, Count de Meuron pledged allegiance to the British in exchange for back pay and military information.

The de Meuron Regiment refused to fight the Dutch due to relationships forged on the island of Ceylon and South Africa with the British.

[citation needed] Until the early 20th century, many Burghers spoke English and Sri Lankan Portuguese creole, even those of Dutch descent.

Burghers of Dutch origin sometimes celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas in December, and those of Portuguese-Jewish origin observe customs such as the separation time of a woman after childbirth (see Leviticus 12:2-5), the redemption of the Firstborn (Pidyon ha-Ben), and the purification bath (taharah) after a daughter’s first period (see niddah).

However, some traditions attributed to Judaism can also be explained as borrowings or retention from the Tamil and Sinhalese communities with whom many Burgher families also share ancestry and culture.

For example, the purification bath after a girl’s first period is a common cultural feature of the Tamil and Sinhalese communities of Sri Lanka and neighbouring India.

While inter-communal strife has been a feature of modern Sri Lankan life, some Burghers have worked to maintain good relations with other ethnic groups.