Only the central highland Kingdom of Kandy—the last remnant of Buddhist Sinhalese power—remains independent of Portuguese control after the annexation of Jaffna.

The kingdom acquires a new significance as custodian of Sinhalese nationalism.

The Portuguese attempt the same strategy they had used successfully at Kotte and Jaffna and set up a puppet on the throne.

They are able to put a queen on the Kandyan throne and even to have her baptized, but despite considerable Portuguese help, she is not able to retain power.

The Portuguese spend the next half century trying in vain to expand their control over the Kingdom of Kandy.

In one expedition in 1630, the Kandyans ambush and massacre the whole Portuguese force, including the captain-general.

The Kandyans foment rebellion and consistently frustrate Portuguese attempts to expand into the interior.