One of the designs of the Portuguese colonial empire was to settle the Paravas in Ceylon. Ten towns and sixty two villages were assigned to the care of the Jesuits in 1602 and it resulted in the settlement of sizeable communities of Paravas on the Sinhalese coast. The Paravas were initially disinclined to migrate since they were attached to their homeland and the Portuguese too were apprehensive that it would not be possible to effect the migration of a large section of Paravas. They suggested that about a thousand families might make the journey accompanied by the Jesuits. The Portugal king instructed his viceroy Azavedo to persuade as many Parava families as possible to settle in the coastal towns and villages of Ceylon.

by Decla