A 16Th Century Clash of Civilizations: The Portuguese Presence in Sri Lanka

When Europeans arrived in 16th century Sri Lanka, they brought unprecedented upheaval to the island's established civilizations. This work examines the Portuguese conquest of the Kingdom of Kotte as a transformative clash—combining military conquest with systematic cultural destruction on a scale the island had never before endured. Through historical accounts, including records of Portuguese actions against sacred sites like the revered Devunuwara shrine, the book documents how colonization reshaped both the spiritual and temporal life of Sri Lankan society.