King Dharmapala
Reign: 1551–1597 CE
Kingdom: Kotte
Country: Sri Lanka
International Connections
Dharmapala, the last king of Kotte, ruled for 46 years under Portuguese suzerainty. Converted to Catholicism and renamed Dom João, he officially bequeathed the kingdom to Portugal before his death.
Dharmapala (1551–1597) was the last king of Kotte, ruling for 46 years as a Portuguese client. Converted to Catholicism and renamed Dom João Dharmapala, he ceded his kingdom to Portugal upon death, formalizing colonial annexation. His reign symbolizes the collapse of independent Sinhalese kingship in the lowlands, transitioning sovereignty to European colonial powers. His legacy is contested: collaboration enabling survival versus betrayal of Buddhist heritage.