Battle for Colombo Port- May 1521 Dr Ajith Amarasinghe recalls a turning point in our history 500 years ago View(s): View(s):The Colombo Port City has become the most discussed topic of the day. When Sri Jayawardanepura Kotte became the capital city in the early 15th Century, the port of Colombo became the most important harbour in the island. The Viceroy met the King in Colombo and sought permission to build a fortress in Colombo. The people erected barricades and began to shoot arrows at the Portuguese garrison, killing a few Portuguese soldiers. The battle for Colombo Fort which was fought exactly 500 years ago was a definite turning point in the history of Sri Lanka, as it ensured the continuous presence of Europeans in the island for the next 450 years.

Source: Sunday Times May 02, 2021 00:54 UTC