Intriguing the culture thirsty traveller, the origins of Batticaloa indicates its rich antiquity. Tracing its foundation to Prince Vijaya, the chronicles claim that the region was inhabited long before his arrival. The natives of the region were referred to as ‘Nagas’, as they believed that they descended from the great serpent and as a civilization they were established.
The demise of the Polonnaruwa kingdom, instigated a distribution of power in the country. While the monarchy shifted capitals, the weakening stronghold of the country gave rise to the Jaffna Kingdom. Alongside this political change, the significance of Batticaloa grew simultaneously.
As a result, it caught the vested interest of the colonial powers. The first coastal region that was seized by the Portuguese was the Batticaloa harbour. The economic prowess of the coastal regions was in the possession of the Kandyan Kingdom and the loss of Batticaloa was the first of many losses. However, its significance boomed when there was a power struggle between the Protuguese and the Dutch came in to being.
The Dutch colonial power identified Batticaloas’ fiscal relevance and put up a successful battle for it and was victorious. King Rajasinha II of Kandy decided to instigate a battle against the Dutch. According to Robert Knox this battle was said to be the fiercest battle that took place between the Dutch and natives. Victory was only temporary, and eventually the Dutch recaptured it.
When colonial powers changed hands, and the Dutch surrendered the ports to the English, Batticaloa came under British administration.
