| Native Name: | pṛtugīsi laṁkāva Pōrttukkēya ilaṅkai |
| Conventional Long Name: | Portuguese Ceylon |
| Common Name: | Ceilão Português |
| Era: | Colonialism |
| Status: | Colony of Portugal |
| Empire: | Portugal |
| Event Start: | Death of Dharmapala of Kotte |
| Date Start: | 27 May |
| Year Start: | 1597[1] |
| Event End: | Surrender of Jaffna |
| Date End: | June |
| Year End: | 1658 |
| Event1: | Luso–Kandyan Treaty |
| Date Event1: | 1633 |
| Event Pre: | Portuguese arrival |
| Date Pre: | 1505 |
| P1: | Kingdom of Kotte |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Kotte.svg |
| P2: | Kingdom of Jaffna |
| Flag P2: | Nandi flag.png |
| P3: | Kingdom of Sitawaka |
| Flag P3: | Flag of Sitawaka Kingdom (1521 - 1594).png |
| S1: | Dutch Ceylon |
| Flag S1: | Flag of the Dutch East India Company.svg |
| Image Map Caption: | |
| Capital: | Colombo |
| Common Languages: | Portuguese (official) Sinhala Tamil |
| Religion: | Roman Catholicism |
| Leader1: | Philip I |
| Leader2: | Philip II |
| Leader3: | Philip III |
| Leader4: | John IV |
| Leader5: | Afonso VI |
| Year Leader1: | 1597–1598 |
| Year Leader2: | 1598–1621 |
| Year Leader3: | 1621–1640 |
| Year Leader4: | 1640–1656 |
| Year Leader5: | 1656–1658 |
| Title Leader: | King of Portugal |
| Representative1: | Jerónimo de Azevedo |
| Representative2: | António de Amaral de Meneses |
| Year Representative1: | 1597–1614 |
| Year Representative2: | 1656–1658 |
| Title Representative: | Captain-General |
Portuguese Ceylon (pt|Ceilão Português; si|පෘතුගීසි ලංකාව; ta|போர்த்துக்கேய இலங்கை) is the name given to the territory on Ceylon, modern-day Sri Lanka, controlled by the Portuguese Empire between 1597 and 1658.
Portuguese presence in the island lasted from 1505 to 1658. Their arrival was largely accidental, and the Portuguese sought control of commerce, rather than territory. The Portuguese were later drawn into the internal politics of the island with the political upheaval of the Wijayaba Kollaya, and used these internal divisions to their advantage during the Sinhalese–Portuguese War, first in an attempt to control the production of valuable cinnamon and later of the entire island. Direct Portuguese rule did not begin until after the death of Dharmapala of Kotte, who died without an heir, and had bequeathed the Kingdom of Kotte to the Portuguese monarch in 1580.[2] That allowed the Portuguese sufficient claim to the Kingdom of Kotte upon Dharmapala's death in 1597. Portuguese rule began with much resistance by the local population.[3]
Eventually, the Kingdom of Kandy sought help from the Dutch East India Company, with whom they initially entered into agreement. After the collapse of the Iberian economy in 1627, the Dutch–Portuguese War saw the Dutch conquest of most of Portugal's Asian colonies – Ceylon included, between 1638 and 1658. Nevertheless, elements of Portuguese culture from this colonial period remain in Sri Lanka.
Portuguese knew Sri Lanka by the name ''Seylan''. In 1505 King of Portugal instructed General Dom Francisco de Almeida to find the island of ''Seylan'' when he was appointed as the emperor of the East by the Portuguese. When the Portuguese were trying to establish relations with Ceylon, Dom Lourenço de Almeida, son of Dom Francisco de Almeida, and others arrived by chance in 1505 AD. So, the first contact between Sri Lanka and the Portuguese was established by Dom Lourenço de Almeida in 1505. It was largely accidental and it wasn't until 12 years later that the Portuguese sought to establish a fortified trading settlement.[4]
See main article: Sinhalese–Portuguese War.
See main article: Campaign of Danture. Direct Portuguese rule began after the death of Dharmapala of Kotte who bequeathed the Kingdom of Kotte to the Portuguese monarch.[5] By 1600 the Portuguese had consolidated the main centers of rebellion, the Kelani and Kalu ganga basins, leaving the border regions to Sinhalese resistance.[6]
See main article: Portuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom.
See main article: Dutch–Portuguese War.
See main article: List of Captains of Portuguese Ceylon.
See main article: List of Captain-majors of Portuguese Ceylon.
See main article: List of Governors of Portuguese Ceylon.
Cinnamon and black pepper were main spices exported by Portuguese.
There are many foods of Portuguese influence that are still popular in Sri Lanka. For example, lingus and pastries.
Sinhala words for certain types of Western attire/ furniture/ food & drink are derived from the Portuguese. Some examples are below:
| Mesaya | Table | Mesa (Table) | |
| Almaariya | Cupboard | Armário (Cupboard) | |
| Kurusaya | Cross | Cruz (Cross) | |
| Toppiya | Hat | Topo (Hat) | |
| Kamisaya | Shirt | Camiseta (Shirt) | |
| Kalisama | Trousers | Calção (Trousers) | |
| Sapaththuwa | Shoe | Sapato (Shoe) | |
| Sidaadiya | City | Cidade (City) | |
| Bébadda (colloq.) | Drunkard | Bêbado (drunkard) | |
| Iskole | School | Escola (School) |