Drama Parangi Satana 2019

The story of the drama is centered around the Portuguese period in Sri Lanka, specifically highlighting the Danture Campaign of 1594. The names of the characters, geographical locations, and historical periods referenced in this drama are factual and drawn from available literature.  

According to the recorded history of Sri Lanka, the earliest period (543 BC-377 BC) lasted 166 years. The Anuradhapura kingdom, which commenced nearly 2394 years ago (377 BC – 1017 AD), was the first significant kingdom in Sri Lankan history, with King Pandukabhaya as its first ruler. He is credited with establishing the first administrative system in Sri Lanka. Following Anuradhapura, the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (1056-1232 AD) emerged as another important era in Sri Lankan history, lasting 176 years. Subsequent kingdoms such as Jaffna, Dambadeniya, Gampola, Kotte, and Sitawaka are recognized as part of the transitional period of the ruling seats in Sri Lanka (1232-1954 AD).  

The Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505 under military commander Lourenco de Almeida, establishing trade relations with the Kotte Kingdom. Initially focused on defending their trading interests, particularly in the lucrative spice trade, their ambitions gradually shifted toward territorial conquest due to the island's strategic location for trade and naval security.  

In 1594, during the Danture Campaign, the Portuguese attempted to install their preferred candidate as a proxy ruler on the throne of Kandy. They sought to enthrone Dona Catarina, a Kandyan princess raised in a Catholic European style under their guardianship.  

The Danture Campaign represented a pivotal moment in the indigenous resistance against Portuguese expansion, marking the first significant defeat of a Portuguese army in Sri Lankan history. On July 5, 1594, a 20,000-strong Portuguese force, led by Governor Pedro Lopes de Sousa, invaded Kandy. However, after three months of intense guerilla warfare and mass desertions, the remnants of the Portuguese army were ultimately defeated at Danture by the Kandyan forces under King Vimaladharmasuriya, marking a resistance against not only the Portuguese but also later challenges from Dutch and British armies until 1815.  

The drama intricately weaves together these historical events from the Danture Campaign, encapsulating the complexities of the Portuguese period in Sri Lanka.