Abstract:
Generally, Europeans who took the all resources from eastern countries
and enriched their motherland. Sri Lanka was not an exception for their
activities. The Jaffna peninsula forms the Northern most part of Sri
Lanka, was captured by the Dutch after the Portuguese. The economy
and culture were badly affected by foreign rule. They were engaged in
controlling the activities of the people. For example, they fully
Concentrated on how to get profit from agricultural sectors. This
included paddy and tobacco cultivation, and Palmyra timber and
aeronaut exports. The Dutch gained more profits by doing these. They
also had full control of exports and imports. The essential items
necessary for the Jaffna people too were imported by the Dutch and they
got high profit. They collected tax (thalai vari) from the people. If the
local people failed to settle the tax they could be severely punished. By
these activities the economy of Jaffna people, their culture and life style
were affected. The aim of this research is mainly to focus the economic
condition of Jaffna and the economic policy of the Dutch during the
period of their rule. It is also indented to show as to how the Jaffna
people were attached by these policies. Researcher has used as primary
sources for this article such as Dutch documents, archaeological and
other historical materials. Researcher has also utilized secondary sources
like relevant researches, other books, articles in the journal, magazines
and internet based the primary sources. Finally, Researcher points out
that the Jaffna economy was badly affected during the Dutch period than
the other Europeans.
