After Trincomalee fell, Rainier moved most of his ships toward operations against Java while Captain Alan Gardner maintained the Colombo blockade and supporting operations. George Elphinstone arrived in January 1796 with the ships of the line Stately and Arrogant. Additional Royal Navy vessels, five East India Company ships, and returning troops under James Stuart enabled the final advance. The British landed at undermanned Negombo on 5 February and marched overland to Colombo. Van Angelbeek surrendered rather than face the assault preparations gathered outside the defences.
Chapter · 37:13-40:28
The final push to Colombo
A renewed British force landed at Negombo in February 1796, marched on Colombo, and secured the last major Dutch holdout.