[5] By placing puppets on the various Sinhalese kingdoms, the Portuguese slowly extended their control over the island.

[7] In response, king Senerat of Kandy desperately sent courier Marchells Michielsz Boschouver to Europe for negotiating an alliance-treaty with the Dutch East India Company.

[8] Denmark sent five vessels and 300 soldiers, at the command of Ove Gjedde, to Ceylon on the purpose of establishing the promised terms in the treaty.

Concurrently, Portuguese soldiers disguised as Iyer priests entered the temple and looted its treasures.

[1][14] Following the Danish incursion, the Portuguese recognized the necessity of establishing a fortified base on the eastern coast of Ceylon to enhance their control over the goods in the region.