ISLAND
- Saturday Magazine – Jan 26, 2002
Uva
Rebellion — 183 yrs. ago today and role of Keppetipola
by S. B. Karalliyadde
It is a pity that there is no evidence left
behind to show the exact situation in Uva in terms of population or agriculture
development after the rebellion. The new rulers are unable to come to any
conclusion on the exact situation of Uva before the rebellion as there is no
trace of evidence left behind to come to such conclusions. If thousands died in
the battle they were all fearless and clever fighters. If one considers the
remaining population of 4/5 after the battle to be children, women and the aged
the havoc caused is unlimited. In short, the people have lost their lives and
all other valuable belongings. It is doubtful whether Uva has at least now
recovered from the catastrophe (Journal of Uva). The above is a minute made by
Herbert White who was a British Government Agent in Badulla after the rebellion.
Cause of rebellion
The 1817 rebellion described as the Uva
rebellion by historians is the culmination of the people’s anger and
dissatisfaction over the British rule which promised to uphold and foster the
Buddhist religion and observe the traditions and norms that hitherto prevailed
in the Kandyan Kingdom up to the signing of the convention of 2nd March 1815.
Mr. Wiliam Tolfry the Chief Translator of the British Government appraised the
Commissioner in-charge of Kandyan affairs Mr. Sutherland of the volatile
situation that prevailed in the country at the beginning of December 1816 and
January 1817, and warned him of an impending revolt against the British
administration.
Reports reached the authorities that one
Duraisamy, a relative of the deposed king who was claiming his rights to the
throne was mustering the support of the people in Uva for a rebellion and that
some Sinhalese leaders too had joined him. Duraisamy was the son of Kalu
Nayakkar a relation of the former king. He was a native of Sath Korale, a
Buddhist priest for some time and now appeared in public as Wilbawe. These facts
were later confirmed by the evidence of Udugama Unnanse at the trial. The
appointment of a Malay Muhandiram Hadji by Major Wilson - Resident in Badulla
was another action of the British which earned the displeasure of the Sinhalese
to the British administration. The areas of Uva Wellassa, Nuwarakalaviya were
neglected jungle areas which had a predominant population of Muslims who
disrupted time and again the smooth supply of salt and dry fish to the people in
the Kandyan Kingdom.
Rebellion spreads out
In 1817 October the rebellion broke out.
Major Wilson, who was in Badulla sent out a battalion under Hadji Muhandiram,
commanded by Hadji’s brother himself to quell the rebellion. The people of Uva
were so provoked with this incident that they caught Hadji and produced him
before Duraisamy who after trial sentenced him to be beheaded. The British were
not deterred by this action of the Sinhalese. Their arrogance and pride saw no
limit when once again on 12.10.1817 Major Wilson himself marched to Uva with a
Malay troop under his command with Lt. Newman.
On this march Major Wilson was killed near
the present Bibile town when an arrow aimed by the Sinhalese rebels pierced his
chest. The British and Malay soldiers had to surmount difficult terrain which
they were not used to in this type of guerrilla battles. This was a novel
experience which retarded their forward march. In the meantime Lt. Col. Hardy
gathered intelligence that the rebels were on the march to Dolosbage in Gampola
area. Hence on 18.10.1817 he proceeded towards that area with troops commanded
by Major O’brien. On arrival they found that the area was calm and quiet free
of any incidents. The people of Hatarakorale and Tunkorale too refused to join
the rebels.
The British government attributed this
attitude of the natives to the influence that Molligoda exerted in the area and
the personal grudge he had with Keppetipola. But in Galaboda Korale which was
the native place of Keppetipola’s father the Britishers faced problems with
the rebels. It was observed that Keppetipola had not been seen in the area for
nearly eight months after the rebellion broke out. To show the gratitude to
those who did not participate in the rebellion, the British government by
gazette notification No. 19 of 1818 reduced the grain tax from 1/10 to 1/14. By
section 22 of the same order all lands belonging to those in the Korale were
exempted from land tax. In terms of clause 53 a centralized civil and judicial
system of administration was set up with Headquarters in Kandy from where three
British civil servants started functioning.
Spread & fall of the rebels
The rebellion spread to the other areas of
the Kandyan Kingdom. In the month of April 1818 Rev. Wariyapola Sri Sumangala of
Asgiri Maha Viharaya removed the Sacred Tooth Relic to Hanguranketa, an area of
difficult terrain. Subsequent to the removal of Tooth Relic from Kandy the
rebellion broke out in Matale, Dumbara, Denuwara, Walapane, Hewaheta etc. by the
people joining the rebels. To face the new developments in the warfront troops
had to be brought from Batticaloa and Kandy. Most of the soldiers in the British
troops were killed by the Sinhalese.
By now a gazette notification No. 6 of 1817
was issued awarding a reward of two thousand Rix dollars to the head of each
rebel - Wilbawe, Kivulegedara Mohottala, Butawe Rate Rala and other rebel
leaders. Kivulegedara Mohottala was arrested and beheaded at Bogambara on
18.12.1818. Kivulegedara Mohottala was the Disawa of Walapana and a royal poet
in the Court of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe. The Disawa of Viyaluwa Ellepola,
Ehelepola, a brother of Maha Adikaram were also arrested and beheaded at
Bogambara on 27.10.1818. By now the following leaders also surrendered. They
were Mattamagoda Disawa of Tunkorale, Kobbekaduwa Disawa of Udapalatha,
Dambawinna Disawa, Dimbulana Disawa, Godagedara Disawa, Kataragama Maha Bethme
and Basnayaka Nilame, Butawe Rate Rala. Towards the end of September with the
onset ot monsoon rains Madugalle Basnayaka Nilame and Ellepola Adikaram too
surrendered.
Final Phase
The situation prevailing in Uva and Wellassa
was so precarious that the English set fire to villages, houses, live stock and
whatever they could lay their hands on. By now Pilamatalawe gave leadership to
rebels having put forward another pretender to the throne as King Weerabahu - a
Nayakkar. At this time the Disawa of Wellassa, Millawa, who was an ailing
elderly leader was removed by the British and Keppetipola was appointed as
Disawa of Wellassa.
The British sent Keppetipola who remained in
Kandy until 17.10.1818 to Uva to bring the situation under control. At about the
same time a British Officer Col. Bartok took into custody Weerabahu the
Pretender. When Keppetipola arrived in Wellassa Sinhalese were engaged in a
fierce battle with the British soldiers Keppetipola sent back all his arms and
ammunition to the British Agent and joined the Sinhalese rebels to lead the
battle. With this change of events other Sinhalese leaders such as Pilimatalawe
Disawa of Sathkorale, Madugalla, Uda Gabada Nilame, Ellepola who was leading
Viyaluwa, Ehelepola a brother of Maha Adikaram Ihagama, Godagedara Adikaram,
Badalkumbure Rala etc. joined the rebels.
The British had to bring troops from India to
quell the rebellion. Finally the British were able to arrest most of the
leaders. Properties of eighteen rebel leaders were confiscated. Pilimatalawe,
who was ill at the time of arrest was exiled to Mauritius Islands. Keppetipola
and Madugalla were beheaded in Bogambara after trial on 18.11.1818 thus ending
another chapter of our history.
Who is Keppetipola Hero
History records that King Senerath of Kandy
fought against a battalion of twenty one thousand Portuguese soldiers in 1630 in
the famous Randeniwela battle. The Portuguese soldiers were led by General
Constantine De Za. Mudliyar Don Cosmas Wijesekara, who was with the Portuguese
joined the kings forces after victory. The king was so pleased to accept him and
conferred on him the honorary title of "Wickramasinghe" and gifted to
him the Katugaha village and the Walawwe close to Bibile. The elder daughter of
this Mudliyar married Wijayasundara Brahmana Mudali. The son born to them was
named Ehelepola who was the Disawa of Uva. The Disawa’s son was also the
Disawa of Uva who died in 1807.
This Ehelepola had two sons one of whom was the Maha Adikaram of Sri Wickrama Rajasingha (1798-1815) King of Kandy. This Adikaram’s sister’s son was Keppetipola. He was born in Monerawila village in Matale and hence known as Monerawila Keppetipola. This was how Keppetipola had connections to Uva. His grand parents and uncles held office in Uva Wellassa. Golahela Disawa (Rajapaksa Wickramasekara) who was Diyawadana Nilame and Disawa of Tamankaduwa during the reign of Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe was the father of Keppetipola. With this high connections throughout the Kandyan Kingdom and the inherent warrior qualities of Keppetipola the Britishers thought that he would be the most suitable person to quell the rebellion and help them to establish their writ of government. But they were mistaken.