During this concerted effort, the Dutch, led by figures like Van Goens, managed to drive out the Portuguese, effectively dislodging them from their foothold.
Despite their efforts, The Dutch gave it to the Kingdom of Kandy[7] Van Goens was resolute in his determination to reclaim the land, a move that had broader implications.
Originally aimed at fostering good relations and encouraging migration to lowlands, this effort transformed into outright annexation, encompassing areas like Sabaragamuva and Ratnapura.
[9] Consequently, this expansionist pursuit triggered a response from the Kingdom of Kandy, which found itself compelled to address the Dutch advancements and assert its own interests in the region.
[10] In August 1670, Raja Singha reacted to the VOC's gradual inland expansion by launching assaults on the company's remote forts.
This development proved frustrating for Van Goens, who had consistently asserted that Raja Singha was frail and unresponsive to territorial expansions.
Batavia had opposed some of Van Goens's grander projects, particularly the relocation of the capital and direct communication with Dutch directors, due to potential risks to the High Government.
While initially supported by the Ceylonese bureaucracy, Van Goens's policies encountered substantial criticism from VOC personnel within Ceylon in the 1670s, leading to doubts about his strategies and intentions.
The portrayal of Kandy played a significant role in Van Goens's endeavours, aiming to secure the directors' endorsement for conquest by depicting Raja Singha as a weak, unpopular, heirless king, thus justifying the VOC's potential takeover of the kingdom.
[14] On March 22, 1672, as Admiral De La Haye led a French fleet to the vicinity of Ceylon, anchoring in the bay of Trincomalee.
Admiral De La Haye dispatched an emissary with 30 French soldiers to engage in negotiations at the Kandyan court.
Subsequently, two court officials, accompanied by a sizeable retinue, journeyed to Trincomalee, receiving hospitality aboard French vessels.