SRI, LANKA, February 16, 2011: (by Janaka Perera) Three centuries after Portuguese colonialism in Sri Lanka ended, Portugal lost Goa, their last stronghold in South Asia. That was in December 1961, when their garrisons surrendered to Indian Forces after less than two days of fighting which ended 450 years of alien rule. Today Portuguese people have the courage to face squarely their country’s dark colonial past in Asia and Africa and the brutal killings of so-called heretics.
However ironically in Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country, it is a different story. A section of the Catholic community, primarily the Church, seems very uncomfortable when reminded of its connection with Portuguese colonialism.
The topic is the subject of Dr. Susantha Goonatilake’s book A 16th Century Clash of Civilizations – The Portuguese Presence in Sri Lanka. It is available for purchase here.