Sinhala words of Dutch origin came about during the period of Dutch colonial rule in Sri Lanka between 1658 and 1798. This period saw absorption of several Dutch words into the local language brought about by the interaction between Dutch colonials and the Sinhalese people, mainly in the coastal areas of the island.
During the Dutch colonial period in Sri Lanka (1658-1798), Dutch words were absorbed into Sinhala, driven by interaction between Dutch settlers and the Sinhalese population, particularly along the coast.