Vimala Dharma Surya I

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Vimala Dharma Surya I (ruled 1591-1604) was a king of Sri Lanka. His influence was considerably diminished by the intrusions of the Portuguese, and by the beginning of the 17th century he was akin to a rebel leader with a small territory inland.

The Dutch explorer Joris van Spilbergen offered an alliance to fight off the Portuguese. Following these negociations, Sebald de Weert was sent officially by Admiral Wybrand van Warwijck to mount a joint counter-attack against the Portuguese. The alliance ended in disaster however during a drinking party, where the Dutch became rowdy, insulted the king, with the consequence that they were all killed. An alliance would not be possible again until 1612, when a new Dutch envoy, Marcelis Boschouwer, established a treaty with King Senarat, ultimately leading to the eviction of the Portuguese from the island, and about one century of Dutch rule, until the British in turn took the island.

Vimala is depicted in Western sources meeting with the Dutch explorer Joris van Spilbergen in 1602.

See also: List of rulers of Sri Lanka