[1] In 1637, the King of Kandy, Rajasingha II, approached the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for military support against the Portuguese occupiers.

The next week, King Rajasingha signed an agreement with the VOC to allow a monopoly in the trade in cinnamon, amongst others, in exchange for help driving the Portuguese out of his kingdom.

[2] In early 1640, the Kingdom of Kandy and the VOC signed another agreement and decided to capture Galle from the Portuguese.

On 13 March 1640, the combined troops under command of Coster overpowered Fort Galle and took over the city.

The High Council decided to install Coster as Governor of Ceylon, with Galle as his residence, where he had a garrison of 200 men.