1. King Buwanekabahu was
getting ready to send an envoy from Kotte to Goa, to prove his innocence. He somehow managed to send him. By this time, the envoy sent by King Mayadunne of Sitawaka was already in Goa. The viceroy reacted by ignoring the envoy sent from Kotte and listening to the one from Sitawaka. Meanwhile, King Vickramabahu of Kandy was repenting for the ill treatment meted out to Baratto. He wanted to make amends for his
mistake.
2. King Vickramabahu, had a stock of arms in Kandy, left by Baratto. The king sent them to Colombo. As the soldiers who
accompanied Baratto to Kandy, were now in Colombo, the king also sent a payment to them for their journey.
Whilst all this was happening, there came about a change again in King Mayadunne. He was delighted that King Buwanekabahu did not get Portuguese help. He thought of making use of this opportunity.
3. All of a sudden, he challenged King Buwanekabahu for war. King Buwanekabahu sought help from the fort in Colombo. The king
happened to be under a good star. Don Juan Castro, the governor in Colombo had died and Garcia de Saa had been appointed to act for the
governor. He was a person who hated war. It is at this time that he received a
letter from the King of Portugal, King John III.
4. It was really meant for King Buwanekabahu through Garcia de Saa.
It was a note of warning, blaming the king for
creating trouble for the
people, who wanted to embrace Christianity. But the king did not change his policy. He secretly harassed them. A priest named John, who was
disgusted over these affairs went back to Lisbon and complained to the Portuguese king, about King Buwanekabahu.
5. The governor in Colombo changed. Garcia left and in his place, Cabraal was appointed. He sent a message to King Buwanekabahu,
asking him to pay
3000 'Kasado'
(Kasado was a unit of money used at that time). If this amount was not paid, he would help King Mayadunne.
6. This amounted to a threat. King Buwanekabahu was in a difficult situation. He was unable to raise that amount of money. He was rendered helpless. The king was really angry with Cabraal for making such an unreasonable request. He thought of reporting the matter to the Viceroy in India. So he sent an envoy to Goa.
7. The envoy thus sent was Sri Rajaraksha Pandit. A letter was also sent through him. In the letter the king complained that the Portuguese who were friendly with him and
helping him, were now
supporting Sitawaka. King Buwanekabahu also sent a letter to the king of Portugal. Included in this letter was a copy of the clauses of the agreement entered into by the Portuguese, sometime back.
8. He added that the Portuguese were now
helping Mayadunne to kill him and his grandson, Prince Dharmapala too.
It was John Castro, who helped Sri Rajaraksha Pandit, to be sent to Goa. He was a relative of the deceased governor Castro. The Viceroy believed the words of Rajaraksha.
So he sent an army, under the commandership of Castro. It was meant to help King Buwanekabahu. |
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