Siege of Kotte (1557–1558)

Buvanekabahu VII with the help of the Portuguese defeated Mayadunne's invading forces, eventually paving the way to an uneasy peace between the two kingdoms.

The Portuguese wanted to conduct a full-scale offensive against Sitawaka and neutralize the threat exerted by King Mayadunne.

[4] This led to an open discontent among Kotte inhabitants and the Portuguese sternly repressed the mutiny by arresting and hanging many participants including 30 Buddhist monks.

Panapitiya Mudali covered the rest of the area and King Mayadunne's corps remained as a reserve force providing reinforcement when necessary.

Taking advantage of the situation, a force of 8,000 Lascarins under Francisco Barreto (Tammita Suriya Bandara) with 80 Portuguese led by Diogo de Melo mounted a counterattack in the dawn.

This unexpected attack met with little resistance and a company under Rui Dias Pereira managed to break into the encampment of Tikiri Bandara.

They captured the standard of Tikiri Bandara and almost managed to kill him; but were forced to withdraw as Rui Dias Pereira was mortally wounded by an arrow to the neck.

[1] As the siege progressed, a party of 3 fustas under António Espínola, Fernão de Castro, and Diogo Juzarte raided several villages along the Diyawanna canal which were occupied by Sitawaka forces.

[1] Throughout the next few months, Afonso Pereira de Lacerda used numerous raiding sorties and skirmishes to prevent Sitawaka forces from approaching the ramparts.

The attack force sallied out on 20 August (Day of Saint Bernard) at the dawn watch, but could not achieve the intended surprise.

Tikiri Bandara, realizing thePortuguese were trying to break through, threw out his musket men and artillery to cover the main body of his vanguard.

Advancing Portuguese forces attacked the Sitawaka musket men and light artillery with the assistance of grapeshot from two falcons and caused many casualties.

The Sitawaka advance guard withdrew, and satisfied with the success, the Portuguese vanguard and center charged across the field chasing them down.

He forced himself in to the gap of the Portuguese army and attacked the rearguard led by Diogo de Melo Coutinho, preventing him from assisting the main body.

But Diogo de Melo skillfully managed to break through the Panapitiya Mudali's force and killed him in the ensuing battle.

Afonso Pereira was determined to punish the ringleader, but the inquiries revealed he was none other than Diogo de Melo Coutinho, the hero of the “Battle by the Lake”.

I own I owe you my life, and since you have given it to me and saved me from so many enemies, don’t be the occasion of my losing it.” These words released the tension between them and the demonstrations ended with Diogo de Melo publicly accepting and praising the leadership of Afonso Pereira.

[13] By November 1558 Afonso Pereira de Lacerda, now strengthened by the new reinforcements, decided to lead another attack against the Sitawaka forces.

[13] Mayadunne realised that he was unable maintain an effective blockade without controlling the Pass of Ambolao and decided to abandon the siege.

[15] Meanwhile, the Portuguese started to lay plans to invade Sitawaka, but Afonso Pereira de Lacerda fell severely ill with chronic malaria.

So the Portuguese viceroy at Goa sent a veteran commander named D. Jorge de Menezes (nicknamed Baroche) to take over from Afonso Pereira.