Battle of Mulleriyawa

Part of Sinhalese–Portuguese War

Date	1559
Location	Mulleriyawa, Outside Colombo on the southern bank of the Kelani River 06°56′10.79″N 79°56′53.64″E / 6.9363306°N 79.9482333°E / 6.9363306; 79.9482333Coordinates: 06°56′10.79″N 79°56′53.64″E / 6.9363306°N 79.9482333°E / 6.9363306; 79.9482333
Result	Decisive Sitawaka victory

Belligerents

Kingdom of Sitawaka

Portuguese Empire

Lascarins (local soldiers on the Portuguese side)

Supported by:

Kotte King

Commanders and leaders

Mayadunne of Sitawaka
battle commanded by: Tikiri Bandara (subsequently Sitawaka Rajasigha)
Wickramasinghe Mudali

Captain major Jorge de Menezes

Strength

4,000 Sitawaka men
Unknown number of militia
Unknown number of war elephants
Small number of cavalry

Exact figures not known

Casualties and losses

exact figures not known

1,600 Portuguese and Lascarins , several of the Kotte men and officers

Portuguese Empire

Supported by:

The Battle of Mulleriyawa (Sinhalese: මුල්ලේරියාව සටන) in 1559 was a battle and a part of the Sinhalese–Portuguese War. It was one of the most decisive battles in Sri Lankan history and considered as the worst and most devastating defeat of Portuguese during that period. According to local chronicles the marshlands of Mulleriyawa turned red with blood after the annihilation of the Portuguese. With this victory Sitawaka emerged as a military power which able to challenge the Portuguese expansion.

Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505 and established trade relations with kingdom of Kotte. They erected a fortress in Colombo and garrisoned it.

In 1521, King Vijayabahu VII’s three sons mutinied against their father. They ousted him, had him assassinated, and divided the kingdom among themselves, leading to the events which known as “Spoiling of Vijayabahu” (Vijayaba Kollaya). The eldest son, Buvanekabahu VII received Kotte with the sea board and ruled with the title of emperor. The second son received the principality of Raigama and ruled under the name of King Raigam Bandara. The youngest son, who masterminded the mutiny, received the kingdom of Sitawaka and ruled as King Mayadunne Bandara.

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