THE GREAT REBELLION OF 1817-1818 IN CEYLON
BY DR. DHARMADASA
TENNAKOON
PART: 1 THE GREAT REBELLION OF 1817- 1818
SUMMARY
The Kandyan Kingdom of Ceylon was
handed over to British rule by Sinhala [“Ceylonese”]
kandyan leaders by a treaty in 1815.
The Kandyan kingdom of Ceylon was reigned by King Sri Wickrama
Rajasingha [1798 – 1815]. As a result of
growing rivalry and antagonism between King Rajasingha and Ahelepola Nilame,
Ahalepola Nilame invaded Kandyan kingdom with support of British military, and
could caught King Rajasingha, and handed over to the British commander. There had been several treats between
Singhala [Ceylonese] nobles led by Ahalepola and the Governor of Ceylon, Robert
Brownrigg, and finally agreed to hand over the rule to British by a
treaty. This convention is named as
UPCOUNTRY CONVENTION OF 1815. But, the
British Government in Ceylon headed by Governor Robert Brownrigg, had
introduced a British administrative system contravening to the traditional
administrative powers of the nobles.
 |
| Dr. Dharmadasa Tennakoon |
The
Great Rebellion of 1817-1818 was initiated in Uva and Wellassa provinces, which
were among main provinces of the kandyan kingdom. This freedom movement was also known as Uva
–Wellassa Uprising of Ceylonese of 1817-1818.
This was the third war against to British colonial government by Kandyan
Sinhalese since 1796. The Kingdom of
Kandy has been a territory of independent regime of Udarata [Up Country] until
it fell under the control of Governor Robert Brownrigg of British
administration in 1815.
After two years since handed over the rule of
Upcountry kingdom under the terms of the Kandyan Convention in 1815, the
British rule began to be uncared of the terms of the convention, and gradually
antagonized the Upcountry chiefs who signed to the Convention. Despite to the
promises, the British breached the rights of the Kandyan chief to retain their
traditional privileges, they introduced British administrative system over
their customary powers. Appointment of
one Malay moor, by Governor Robert Brownrigg on recommendation of John D’Oyly,
named Hajji Marikkar Muhandiram [in September 1817] as Travala Madige
Muhandiram of Wellassa, replacing the rights of Millawe Dissawa fired the
unrest of Kandyan nobles against to the British rule. In August and September
1817, Kivulegedara Mohottala[HIS FULL NAME WAS “WEERA VANNI BANDARA
KIVULEGEDARA PUNCHI BANDARA MOHOTTALA DISAWE”], Kohukumbure Rate Rala, Butawe Rate Rala and
Millawe Disawa organized a riot against to this decision, in Badulla. Kivulegedara Mohottala [Weera Vanni
Bandara Kivulegedara Aluth Punchi Bandara Mohottala Disawa] had involved in
riot with admired responsibility in organizing people at the initial stage.
On
One hand, appointment of moor as Disawa with traditional administrative and
military powers was conceived by upcountry natives as a threat to their
conventional legacy. On the other hand, hidden grudge and suspicion conceived
by the British administration upon senior Disawas, i.e., Ahalepola, Pilimathauva
Madugalla and Keppetipola were not happy for the local Buddhist priest and native
leaders. An annoyance amongst the most
Sinhala nobles, Buddhist priests, and local leaders was growing since the
Treaty of 1815 was signed by the By the British higher officials and by the
Kandyan Nobles. These anxieties of the
future of Kandyan Sinhales [Kandyan natives] were growing even among Buddhist
leaders in Kandy, Malwatta and Usgiriya sectors. This anxiety was turning in to a phase of a
rebellion since 26 September 1817, with Hajji Mohandiram’s troops’ attempt to
enter Badulla. The second attempt was
made by Major. Sylvester Wilson on 16th October. And he was killed by rebels. The
rebel movement was demonstrated strongest in September and October 1817. In end
of October, when British sent a massive troop to UVA – WELLASSA under
Kappetopola Nilame, the rebel leaders had high morale to attack them before
entering to Uva. Kappetiola Nilame had several negotiations with rebel leaders,
and finally decided to join to rebels and to lead the battle. The rebel leaders
had prepared to plunder guns and ammunition of the enemies, but they later changed
it. Keppetipola turned back all British
military which were under his command, with their all arms and ammunition. Since then, many Kandyan nobles, Disawas ans
Mohottalas began to join to rebels with their local followers.
Generally, since March to September, the
riot was well organized and was receiving confidence of the mass. By October of
1817, the uprising movement was growing in many Disavas [regions] in Matale,
Uva and Wellassa, and Governor Robert Brownrigg stationed in Kandy to organize
the war to suppress the rebellion. On
recommendation of D’Oyly, the Governor sent a battalion of 500 British army soldiers with 2,000 Sinhala
[lascoreyns], Malay and Indian soldiers to Uva under command of Keppetipola
Disawa in 26th October, 1817, to quell the uprising, but
joining of Keppetipola Disawa to the rebellion at Alupotha in Uva as the leader
of the rebellion, the Governor disappointed.
The other leaders who supported this riot
movement since beginning of 1817, the leaders of in charge of regional
battalions, such as Gode Gedara
Adikaram, Wilbawe as assigned King (an alias
of Duraisamy, a Nayakkar of Royal blood), Madulle Nilame,
Megaskumbure Nilame, Kandepolla Nilame, Dunuwila Nilame, Iriyagama Nilame,
Thanne Adikarama, II Pilima Talauve Adikaram, Kohu Kumbure Rate Rala, Dimbulana
Disave, Kivulegedara Mohottala[Kiulegedara Mohottala was the Dissava of Walapana and a royal poet in the Court
of King Sri Wickrama
Rajasinghe, his full name was “Weera Vanni
Bandara Kivulegedara Punchi Bandara Mohottala Disawe]., Madugalle Disave, Butewe Rate Rala, Galagoda Mohottala, Galagedara Mohottala, Meegahapitiya
Rate Rala, Dambawinna Disave and , Kurundukumbure Mohottala reinforced their
troops with directions of Keppetipola Nilame.
Keppetipola ordered his British troops to turn
back, and returned all arms and ammunition of the British with them, perhaps to
prove our cultural disciplinary to exotic invaders. In April 1818, Rev. Wariyapola Sumangala of
Asgiriya, with help of Madugalla Nilame, fled with the relics casket to
Hanguranketa, which resulted in great confidence of the leaders of the
rebellion.
While it was on progress, Kohukumbure Rate Rala
and his supported were caught by native Lieut. Anna in April, 1818. During May –August many local leaders and
followers of the rebel were caught by the British army, or surrendered
themselves. By September 1818 the
British army captured few regional leaders and chief rebels, and captured
Ellepola who was the Dissawa of Viyaluwa and a brother of Maha Adikaram
Ehelepola and beheaded them in Bogambara on 27th October 1818. The
rebellion was in progress in many districts with random setbacks until end of
August 1818, led by Monarawila Keppetipola Disawe and other leading nobles, and
they could have captured Matale and northern part of Kandy before Keppetipola fell ill with jungle
fever.
It was evident that the rebellion was failed
due to a number of reasons. Since the
inception, it was not well planned well led by the leaders. The crossing
territory controlled by some Chieftains and they helped the British allowing
routes to use for military and for British supplies. There has been
disagreement of the status of King Wilbawe alias Doraisami, who claimed his
hereditary legacy to the Sinhalese throne, among Sinhalese nobles and common
people, as he had Nayakkar origin. Lack
of weapons, ammunitions and gunpowder was the serious problem faced by rebels
at the last movement in October, 1818. The rebels happened to fight in
dispersed small groups.
The Great Rebellion of 1818 was launched by upcountry
nobles to expel the British rule in Ceylon [Sri Lanka], The rebel movement was
initiated by few nobles in August, 1816,
and, in May, 1817 the movement
was officially announced in a royal occasion that Wilbawe alias Dorasamy was
crowned by upcountry nobles as the king of Kandyan kingdom. The nobles in the kandyan region
began to break with, and aggressive with the new British rule in Kandy, since
the British administration began to breach the 1815 UPCOUNTRY CONVENTION, and
replaced the power of feudal nobles with newly introduced British
administrative and judiciary system. Enactment
of irrational taxes upon upcountry farmers was another pressing reason.
The
rebellion broke out over five kandyan District on 12th October
1818. By January, 1818, rebellion could
get under control 65 percent of the kandyan kindom including, Matale, southern
part of Thamankaduwa, southern part of Nuwarakalaviya, Mahiyanganaya,
Monaragala and Wellassa, south Kandy regions, Athugalpura, Walapane and
Badulla. Meanwhile, some upcountry nobles were not participated in rebel, and
there has been some contradiction between local Buddhist priest and such that nobles.
Some of that nobles were aggressively served
in the intelligence panel of John D’Oyley and Sawers. Information of rebels, their locations, names
of leaders, travelling sites of rebel regiments, etc., was passed these spy
groups to British secretariats in kandy The British rule was threatened, and
Governor, Robert Brownrigg pronounced proclamation and issued in January 1818 to
rebel leaders if surrender to military to grant excuse. Since then, many local leaders and some
rebels broke away with spy services of British.
This move of rebels hampered the strength of rebellion.
The Sinhalese
rebel army led by Kappetipola and other leaders faced a severe battle with
British armies attacked in three fronts.
At last, the defeat of battle in third week of September 1818, the
principal leaders of the rebellion fled back with their retinues to certain
secured places in the outer periphery of UVA and Wellassa. There has been some disappointment of the
leadership of Keppetipola of the defeat.
This was caused a mental depression to Monarawila Kappetipola. Keppetipola Nilame and his rebels happened
to be fled through Bibile to Mahiyangana.
Keppetipola Nilame and Ahalepola Nilame had similar interest to become
Governing Chief of the kandyan kingdom under British Empire, but that condition
was not included in the Treaty [Convention] of 1815, which was signed and
attested by the principal Adigars of kandy and by the Governor and the higher
rank British administrators. This hidden
intrinsic antagonism, and unfair military power, rules and regulations of the
British caused an uprising of people at the cost of lives and properties of the
natives [Ceylonese].
1.UPCOUNTRY CONVENTION OF 1815 AND CAUSES
OF THE REBELLION 1818
OF THE REBELLION 1818
The King Rajasingha was losing
confidence of the Sinhala leaders and Buddhist communities due to his brutal
punishments to many nobles and to the Ahalepola Nilame’s family. A coup against to the king was growing at
higher level administration, especially
among disawes.
The Buddhist priests, local leaders and the people were annoyed against to his savage rule and
prepared to organize to expel him from the thrown and kingship by force. The King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha was
incapable to solidly face to the war of February 1815, as Kandyan kingdom was
invaded by a massive troop consisted of Sinhala soldiers [upcountry Ceylonese]
lead by Sinhala kandyan leaders, especially commanded by Ahalepola Adikarama, with
support of British army under a British
commander.
The British introduced new administrative and judiciary
systems neglecting conventional powers of the few eminent feudal nobles. The
rebel movement was gradually grown up and become acute threat to the British
rule until end of September,1818, but due to severe lost in main fronts in
Uva-Wellassa, the rebel troops turned back and fled to secured areas, i.e.,
eastern Uva, eastern and northern Wellasa regions, eastern and southern Nuwarakalaviya regions.
Many rebels and leaders had permanently fled away from the battle. October,
1818 was the most acute period for rebels and leaders, as the British army had
placed many troops in eastern belt of Nuwarakalaviya and in northern and
eastern belt of Uva – Wellassa to catch under custody all leaders of the
rebellion. By January, 1819 the British
could get under custody all leaders of the rebellion, and could declare that
the rebellion was completely controlled.
The Kandyan kingdom of Ceylon [Sri
Lanka] was handed over to the British rule by Ministers [traditional Lords/Disawes]
of the King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha having surrendered the King to British
commander, signing a treaty on 02nd
March 1815, which was named as “Convention of 1815”. By helping to British troops to acquire
Kandyan kingdom, Ahalepola Adigar [a
provincial lord and a minister to former King] expected to handle the administration
of Kandy territory, behalf of the British Government. But, the British rule planned to introduce
new administrative system with appointed officers by the Crown. The British Governor Robert Brownrigg handled
the executive and judiciary power through British administrators stationed in
the Districts of the kandyan kingdom. By
end of 1816, the British rule established perfectly new administrative and
judiciary system in complete upcountry with leading higher level state officers
under the control of the Governor appointed by the British Crown.
As S.B. Karaliyadda explains, instead of appointing Ahalepola
Nilame as the customary ruler of the Kandyan kingdom, “John De Oyly,
designated as the Resident Representative, and became the ruler of our
kingdom. His second in command was James
Gray and the next in line was Simon Sawers. The western area was under P.E. Woodhouse,
as the Agent of the government in Colombo, overlooking the central area, who
was also the acting Colonial Secretary”.
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| Ceylonese Adigars and Nilames |
The native traditional lords [provincial lords] lost
their traditional status in executing administrative and judicial powers. On one hand, there has been hindered
competition among native lords to win the will of British Administration for
power and, on the other hand, performance and actions of Molligoda Nilame and Eknaligoda
Nilame [ traditional Disawe/lords] created suspicion among other senior Adigars
[Adigar = a minister and a lord] and it led them to work against to the British
rule in Kandyan territory. Amongst the
chieftains there had been grudge between each other for power and status. The senior Dissawas i.e., Ahalepola,
Keppetipola, Madugalla, Kandepola and Pilimathalauva did not receive their due
respects, status and powers from the Governor Robert Brownrigg. The mostly said
reason of the Great Rebellion of 1818 was that breaching of the terms of the Convention
of 1815 by the British Administration, through breaking, degrading and abasing of
traditional status of the Buddhism and Buddhist priests, and enforcing unfair
and unfamiliar tax burden upon native farmers in the Kandyan territory. On this ground, the leaders [noble Lords]
could easily have militarized farmers and reinforce them as rebels. The question could have been settled by
negotiations, but the few traditional lords/Disawes closely worked with the
British administration should have fired to the reciprocate communications.
According to historians, i.e., Prof. Tennakone
Wimalananda, the reasons caused to rebellion movement of 1817 -1818 was the
“culmination of the peoples anger, distrust and dissatisfaction over the new
British rule, formatted by Gov. Brownrigg, breaching the Convention of
March,1815 which promised to uphold and foster the Buddhist
religion, securing the
powers and prestige of nobles and people, and
conserve the traditions and norms that had prevailed in the Kandyan
Kingdom prior
to the signing of the Kandyan Convention on the 2nd March 1815”.
A riot in near future was observed by Mr. William
Tolfrey, [who was the Chief
Translator of the British Resident of Kandy], and by the Commissioner in-charge
of Kandyan affairs, Mr. Sutherland. They
had observed with field visits of the volatility and disinterest, and unhappy
situation that prevailed in the country at the December 1816 and January 1817
with some civil incidents. The
government agents in Uva and kandy had warned Molligoda Adikaram of an
impending unrest or revolt against the British administration.
2. PROGRESS OF THE
REBELLION OF 1818
In the process of initial stage of
the rebellion until August 1817, it was operated under few leaders as
protesting movement against to the British rule. The leaders and Buddhist
priests urged to proceed until end up the British rule. the native leaders had crowned Wibawe, alias
Dorasamy and declared he as King of the kandyan Territory in August 1817. Wibawe alias Dorasamy was close relative of
King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha, with Indian origin. Dorasamy failed to win confidence of many
Kandyan leaders, farmers and citizens, as he was from Tamil nationality. Actually,
there had been an undeclared enthusiasm among Kandyan leaders to appear as king
of the Kandyan territory. It was widely
seen, this disunity and grudge among the Kandyan leaders [including, Nilames,
Dissawas, Mohottalas, and the so on], was critical during the initial and mid
stages of the rebel movement.
In August, new King of Kandyan
kingdom, King Wilbawe urged to prepare for war against to exotic British rule
in kandy. On this day, king appointed
his Ministers and military heads.
Madulle Weeragedera Bandara Kohukumbure Rate Rala was designated by new
King as Wellassa Disawa and Commander of army in Wellassa. Viyaluwe Weera Vanni Bandara Kivulegedara Aluth
Punchi Bandara Mohottala Disawa was designated as Uva Disawa and Commander of
Army in Uva. The King advised these two
commanders to study and suggest the names of competent persons in other
districts such as Hanguranketha, Walapane, Haripatthuwa, Sabaragamuwa, Kegalle,
Athugalpura, Matale, Mahiyanganaya, and Bibile, and to contact them to appoint
them as military heads in the regions.
He promised when time comes he will declare the war against to British
rule in Ceylon. They all came to a
conclusion that before declare of war; it needs to reinforce possession over
limit arms, guns and ammunition, as well as people to battle.
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| British Army |
It was evident that, at this movement
the organizers had faced with the problem of buying ammunition and arms enough
for the rebels. The local Buddhist monks
and priests were hurried to proceed and compelled the minds of nobles and
peasants for a quick riot without letting them assessing the military power of
British army, a strategic plans to face in the battle, selecting easy sites for
rebels to approach to Kandy and the so on.
Even after defeat of the rebellion, some Buddhist priest had several
times attempted at riots, all these had resulted in loss of lives of thousands
men, women and children.
Appointment of Hajji Mohandiram as
Uva Disawe [in September 1817] fired the anxiety of the people as well as
leaders and Buddhist priest, as they were conceived it as a beginning treat to
the rights and legacy of the Uva people.
The unrest and breaching of civil law was taken place in Badulla, and
Sylvester Wilson sent Hajji Mohandiram with 50 British soldiers and 200 other
soldiers on 26th September 1817 to quell the riot. The rebels killed Hajji Mohandiram and
English soldiers. Next, Sylvester Wilson
vent to Badulla with 100 British soldiers and 350 other soldiers on 16th
October 1817 to suppress the riot. The
rebels killed Sylvester Wilson and his head was taken to deity temple in the
jungle. Many of his troop were dead and
the operation was failed. Now, by end of
October, the riot had developed to a rebellion.
The Governor Robert Brownrigg took
special attention to suppress the rebellion with the death of Major Wilson by
rebels in 18th, October, 1817.
The Governor visited to Kandy on 25th October and planned
onward operations. He sent keppetipola
with a battalion to Uva on 26th October and Keppetipola joined to
rebellion on 02nd November 1817.
However, the rebel movement had developed
tremendously since September 1817 to August 1818, and had spread over many
regions, i.e., Walapane, Badulla, Monaragala, Bibile, Dumbara, Hewahata,
harispaththuwa, Athugalpura, Mathale, and Elahara. The major setbacks of the rebels were taken
place since end of August 1818 due to lack of arms and gunpowder.
On 01. 01. 1818, Governor Robert
Brownrigg issued a proclamation which pronounced that all named leaders are as
‘traitors’ and issued order to confiscate their all properties and valuables. On 21st February Governor declared
martial law over kandyan territory, and pronounced public declaration to grant
excuse to rebels who surrender to army before 15th March 1818. After this proclamation, many local leaders
and their partners surrendered to the British army or fled away from the battle
fronts. The operations of British army
for tracing the movements of rebels were accelerated. The power and law become brutalized by the
army commanders and the war was fatal to innocents in hamlets and fields, and
to their wealth and property. Houses
were burned and women and children were harasse.
While in the progress, in April and
May 1818 some leading rebels and their commanders were caught by British army,
and some had surrendered themselves to the British army. In April 1818 Kohukumbura Rate Rala and his
followers and other few leaders were caught by native Lieut. Annan of British
army. Lack of food and arms suppressed rebels to
proceed with good morale.
The
rebellion broke out over five kandyan District on 12th October
1818. By January, 1818, rebellion could
get under control 65 percent of the kandyan kindom including, Matale, southern
part of Thamankaduwa, southern part of Nuwarakalaviya, Mahiyanganaya,
Monaragala and Wellassa, south Kandy regions, Athugalpura, Walapane and
Badulla. Meanwhile, some upcountry nobles were not participated in rebel, and
there has been some contradiction between local Buddhist priest and such that
nobles. The nobles did not support to
rebels were critically criticized by the local Buddhist priests, and this
turned to a disaster. Some of those
nobles were become broke with priests and joined to British intelligence
service on contract and aggressively served in the intelligence panel of John
D’Oyley and Sawers. Information of
rebels, their locations, names of leaders, travelling sites of rebel regiments,
etc., On the other hand, the rebels
could hardly get information of British military plans and their movements. was passed these spy groups to British
secretariats in kandy The British rule was threatened, and Governor, Robert
Brownrigg pronounced proclamation and issued in January 1818 to rebel leaders
if surrender to military to grant excuse.
Since then, many local leaders and some rebels broke away with spy
services of British. This move of rebels
hampered the strength of rebellion.
The British administration used various strategies to
quell up the rebellion since January, 1818.
First they increased their military power, and used brutal action
against to natives those who helped rebellion movement. In January 1818, by the Governor in Ceylon during
the rebellion, a Gazette Notification was
issued to condemn and execute all those rebelled against British Rule in
Sri Lanka[Ceylon]. The persons participated
in the uprising were condemned as “traitors” and their properties confiscated
by the government under the legal notification.
All those who were captured or surrendered were prosecuted and punished;
with some executed and others exiled
to Mauritius.
 |
| Source:Hirutv.lk :British Officials in Kandyan Kingdom |
The British followed brutal strategies to
suppress the rebel by destroying lives and properties; the British massacred
the male population of Uva above the age of 18 years.[9]They also confiscated or plundered the
properties of the people, arrested women and children of families involved in
the uprising. They killed or acquired
all cattle and other animals. They
savagely fired and burned homes, and property. Crops of home gardens and paddy
fields in Wellassa and Uva were burned or
harvested for their use. The indigenous irrigation and farming systems in Uva and Wellassa destroyed to control food supply to rebels,
After the defeat of 1818 Uva-Wellasa
Freedom Rebel [in end of September, 1818] which was led by eminent upcountry
noble community [prabhoo], including Disavas, Mudliers, Nilames, Mohottalas,
Rate Ralas, and Vidanes; the rebel military in teams with leaders was ordered to setback for safety places in
the Vanni Rata and Madulla zones presently called Monaragala, and Athimale and
Kotiayagala jungles. Some of them, on
the way, were caught by British troops, but some of them fled in to secured
places. But, the key leaders were still reorganizing
the rebels for next battle.
On the
leadership of Wariyapola Thero, a group of leaders such as Madugalla Nilame,
Pilimathalawe, Jayasundera Nilame and Kivulegedera Mohottala, the leaders were
planning to reorganize the movement under the leadership of a person identified
as descending from a royal family of King Wimaladharmasuriya 1. They planned to assemble at Alahara or
Sigiriya in second week of October 1818.
This proposal for treaty to reorganize and reinforce the movement was
reassessed by some leaders in different ways.
The movement for this new proposal was seemed to be in lagging behind
due to lack of weapons and gunpowder.
Meanwhile, the British army was reinforced with 15,000 Sinhala, Indian
and Malay soldiers with new weapons, and was stationed to trace the tracks
fleeting by rebels.
The
proposal for the ‘Second Movement’ of the rebellion had suggested to leaders to
base their retinues of rebels and reinforce in eastern territory of
Nuwarakalaviya. But, the response to
this treaty was seemed to be decelerating.
There has been some
disappointment of the leadership of Keppetipola of the defeat. This was caused a mental depression to
Monarawila Keppetipola. Keppetipola
Nilame and his rebels happened to be fled through Bibile to Mahiyangana. Keppetipola Nilame and Ahalepola Nilame had
similar interest to become Governing Chief of the kandyan kingdom under British
Empire, but that condition was not included in the “Treaty of 1815”.
Meanwhile, Molligoda Maha Adikaram, with help of John Doyle had been
communicating secretly with Monerawla Keppetipola and Madugalla on the strength
of the British army with new weapons and urged to surrender to Commander in
Kalawewa, and they promised to secure their
families, property and status, advising not to go for second step to
retrieve. At this movement, the leaders
had only three options: 1. to continue with fighting, 2. Leave fighting and
Surrender themselves and 3. Fled to Vanni and hide and live in Vanni.
 |
| Adigars and Rebels |
By the first week of October 1818, many leaders, i. e., Allepola,
Madugalla, Pilimathalawa, Monarawila Keppetipola, Dunuwila Nilame, Eeriyama
Nilame, Humapola Duraya, Thanne Ganithaya, Megaskumbure, Kohukumbre Rate Rala,
Mahabulugammana Rate Rala, were moving to boarders of the Nuwarakalaviya. Many leaders could rejoin to their sons and
relatives at the boarders. Kivulegedera
Mohottala could rejoin with his son, brother’s son and other relatives and
Weheraliyaddegedara Duraya, Eeriyagama Nilame and his relatives, relatives of
Mahabulugammana Rate Rala, relatives of Madugalle, at Wilgamuwa and fleeted to
Elahara. Meanwhile, Keppetipola with his
followers had travelled in another direction to kalawewa. Madugalle and Pilimathalawe had moved earlier
to Kandalama village. The idea of
reorganization had been left behind as many leaders had moved in different
directions. At Elahara, leaders decided
to disperse separately to secure places and Kivulegedera reached to Ritigala
with his relatives accompanied with Nilgala Dingiya and his troop, Nannapurawe Vidane Rala and his troop and
Allegedara Welathe Maha Rala and his troop.
Thanne Vidane Rala with his 90 retinue had moved from Raththota to
Moragolla expecting to join to rebel retinue of
Keppetipola Nilame.
Earlier in 02nd
March 1818, British has caught and prisoned Ahalepola Nilame, his elder brother,
and Millawe Nilame with some followers. As Governor had issued a proclamation for
rebels to surrender themselves before 25th of March, 1818, many
leaders as well as rebels and their followers abandoned the war and
surrendered, and some went remote jungles and lived hiding there. Many Disawas and Mohottalas were fired to death
by British military while they were searching rebels. Allepola was caught in September, and
Keppetipola and Pilimathalauva were caught by Lieut. O’Neil in Para wahagama in
Kalawewa on 02nd October 1818.
Madugalla Nilame surrendered in Elahera on 02nd November
1818. Keppetipola and Madugalla were
executed [beheaded ] on 26th October at Bogambara Ground.
The Tooth Relic of Buddha was captured by British army on 02nd
November, 1818, and this was affected to leading heads of the rebellion who
escaped in the hilly terrain jungles to abandon the hope for
reorganization.
The Governor, Robert Brownrigg had issued a proclamation on
12th December 1818 to give
reward of 500 gold pagodi to one who kill or get capture under custody
“Kivulegedara Mohottala”, who was the last leader to catch. British had information since second week of
September of 1818 that Kivulegedara Mohottala was hiding in steep jungle
terains in Badulla, but he had fled to Nuwarakalaviya in end of September with
his son and relatives, and he alone came back to Badulla in end of October
1818. The Governor had issued notificationon 12th December that
Kivulegedara Mohottala still alive and ordered to trace his fleet in Bibile and
Monaragala.
Again, Governor had pronounced on 23rd
December that two main leaders, Kivulegedara Mohottala Disawa and Meegaskumbura
Nilame, remaining to get under custody, and issued order to catch and present
to court, and to declare that rebellion is successfully quelled by British
Army.
The Rebellion of 1818 was suppressed and quelled by January
1819, as the last leader to capture was surrendered to British army on 18th
January, 1819, and executed at Badulla British secretariat on 26th
January 1819. The Governor was presented in Badulla at this time, and had
issued proclamation that the last leader of the rebel, Weeravanni Vannibandara Kivulegedara
Aluth Punchibandara Mohottala is surrendered and executed, and the rebel was
completely controlled all over the Island.
The reports indicates that the rebellion was brought under control, by
February, 1819 after 850 rebels were surrendered or captured, and 778 rebels were either executed, imprisoned
or exiled from the country. The rebellion caused death toll about 10,000-15,000
people including family members and the supporters, including a large number of
women and children below 18 years of old. The Governor had instructed to army
to be ravage and frighten civil mass as a strategy to suppress riot and to
trace the hiding leaders.
3. SETTLEMENTS OF REBELS IN VANNI
AND NUWARAKALAVIYA
A majority of leaders of the rebel
were at age of between 40 -50, and their relatives, sons and friends were
organized in groups. With defeat of the
rebellion some of them could fleet to different places in Wellassa and
Nuwarakalaviya. The fact, that the many
groups of the rebels had moved to territories of eastern Vanni and western
Vanni in the dry zone, and had settled on the ruined irrigable lands, is widely
known. Many of rebel groups were settled
on the lands of ruined irrigation systems, specially, lands in Nuwarakalaviya
and eastern Wellassa. They settled and
lived with their survived family members. They restored irrigation tanks and
paddy lands and lived safely. British identified them as natives of the region
during 1870, Country Land Survey. During
1870-1940, the British government sold land that they had identified as Crown
land to inhabitants, who had enough money to pay for buying of land. Between 1870 – 1920 many nobles had migrated
from kandy to Nuwarakalaviya, who had earned money from servicing to British
have bought paying money for flourished land in Nuwarakalaviya.
In end of October, 1818,
Madugalla and few other leaders were captured by the British Army. Moneawila Keppetipola was captured by a group
of British army camped at Kalawewa. He
was surrendered to British army
while he and his military were at Parawahagama village, near Andiayagala,
Kalawewa. It was said that he was surrendered on 2nd, November,
1818, when he was hiding at his sister’s house, in that village. Since then, rebel leaders gradually became
convinced themselves, that it is time for rebels to set back to safety places. many
sons and relatived of rebel leaders escaped to vanni. The rebels dispersed in groups to jungles for
their survival, and later they found ruined ancient irrigation systems and
small tanks, which were looked worth to be rehabilitated for shelter and
producing their own food. These are the purana villges
at present.
PART II: VANNI BANDARA WAMSA
PARAMPARAWA AND
KIVULEGEDARA
MOHOTTALA
[WEERA VANNI BANDARA
KIVULEGEDARA ALUTH PUNCHI BANDARA MOHOTTALA DISAWE]
1. THE HISTORY OF VANNI BANDARA CLAN AND
KIVULEGEDARA MOHOTTALA
The information of many of leaders of
the rebellion of 1818 is not complete. The
information and data in the history of descending persons of the rebels and
leaders are not available and in some cases are not clear. An one Puskola book compiled in 1848 by one
Buddhist monk called Ethanawaththe Dhammakitti giving detailed account on
“Vanni Bandara Vamsa Puranaya” has given much important account on the role of
Vanni Bandara Clan [Giri Vamsa] and Vanni Chora Bandaras in the different
political regimes in Sri Lanka. This
book gives valid information on the 1818 rebel, including Kivulegedara
Punchibandara Mohottala. This book has
been studied and reviewed by one Burmese monk called Mabole Thusitha Thero, in
1958, during his stay in Mahamankankadawala Temple, in Nuwaragam Palatha. Mabole Thusitha Thero has prepared review document on this
book. This book gives sufficient
information of historical value about clan of Vanni Bandara and line of descent
of Kivulegedera Mohottala.
According
to these information in the aforesaid document, the descent of Kivulegedera
Mohottala belonged to the Vanni Bandara clan [Giri Wamsa clan], which was
descending from Yakka line of hereditary rulers [since 10,000 B.C]; i.e., King
Kuwarna dynasty, Rawanadhiraja dynasty
[8,000 B.C.], aftermath through down to the
Sona Giri time,[900 B.C.], and Yakka
empire under king Aritta Giri [600 B.C.]. There were few local leaders at this last
dynasty such as, Kuweni, DevaGiri, Siva Giri and Sonakandu to rule provincial
states. King Arritta Gri ruled Sri Lanka
during the time of Buddha in India.
In 14th century, one Senadhipathi
of Vanni Bandara clan, named as Sitti Bandara, was appointed as a Minister by the
King 5th Parakramabahu, who ruled in Gangasiripura [Gampola] during
1344 -1349. In addition, King
Parakramabahu 5th appointed
Minister Sitti Bandara as Disawe Mnister for Uva and Wellassa region in order
to secure defense of the region from South India invasions. He was awarded with royal lands in Walapane,
Kivulegama and Medagama. He resided in lower
Uva, at Kivulegama in Viyaluva province.
Kivulegama SittiBandara Disawa minister was the first identified
ancestor of Kivulegedara Punchi Bandara Mohottala. Since then, the many persons of Vanni Bandara
clan have held key positions in the Kings’ administration.
During King Don Juan Dharmapala [1551-1597], there were eminent young
persons of Vanni Bandara clan in the security regime of King Dharmapala. These
persons were named as Don Phillip, Don Juan Konappu Bangara, and Don Juan Sungili
Bandara [Konappu Bandara and Sungili Bandara were close relatives], who belonged
to the fifth generation of Kivulegama Sitti Bandara Disawa Minister who lived
during Gampola regime [1335-1355]. In 1589,
a Portuguese team of military, as they had planned, reached to Kandy with Don
Phillip, Don Juan Konappu Bandara and Don Juan Sungili Bandara, and declared
Don Phillip as the King of Kandy.
Portuguese appointed Don Juan Konappu Bandara as Senevi,
and Don Juan Sungili Bandara as
Assistant Senevi. In 1591, Don Juan Konnappu
Bandara with help of Don Juan Sungili Bandara catched and killed king Don
Phillip, and Don Juan Konnappu Bandara declared as the King of Kandy[1591-1604],
and appointed Sungili bandara as Chief Minister and Chief Senevi. Kivulegama Sungili Bandara Minister [Giri
Wamsa] was another identified ancestor of Kivulegama Kivulegedera Punchi Bandara
Mohottala [Weera VanniBandara Kivulegedara Aluth PunchiBandara Mohottala].
King
Keerthi Shri Rajasinghe [1747-1782] appointed Senevi Kivulegama Paththuwe Weera
Vanni Bandara [grandfather of Kivulegedera Mohottala] as Wellassa Chief Nilame [Maha Nilame] in
1750. Weera Vanni Bandara [grandson of
kivulegama Sen-Weera Bandara], and later appointed as Disawe Minister for
Wellassa and Uva, and he lived in Medagama. His first son,
Kivulegama Paththuwe Weera Vanni Bandara Heenthanne Radale Bandara
[father of Kivulegedara Mohottala] appointed by King as Walapane Rate Rala in 1773.
Kivulegama Kivulegedara Punchi Bandara was second son [born in 1774] of
Kivulegama Weera Vanni Bandara, Wellassa
Disawa. Kivulegedara Punchi Bandara was
appointed as ‘Mohottala’ in 1802 by King Shri Wickrama Rajasinghe [1798 –
1815], and later in 1804 appointed as “Walapane Dissawa”.
[WEERA VANNI BANDARA
KIVULEGEDARA ALUTH PUNCHIBANDARA MOHOTTALA DISSAWA]
2. KIVULRGEDARA MOHOTTALA AS THE FIRST COMMANDER OF
THE
REBELLION
OF 1818
Kivulegedara Mohottala at the initial
stage of the rebellion in 1817, devoted his energy cooperatively working with
eminent Buddhist leaders to convince people to rise against to the British
rule. He himself organized the movement
as acting commander and leader. He
could convince the country people the need of up rise against to exotic rulers.
The organization of the rebel against
to the British rule in Ceylon was gradually developing since May, 1816 with
participation of local leaders in Uva and Wellassa. The higher rank indigenous nobles and high
ranked officials were behind the
freedom organization at the initial stage, such as Kivulegedara Mohottala, kohukumbure
Raterala, Butawe Mohottala, Bakinigahawela Heenappu, Humanipola Duraya, and
Maddulle Vidane. By October 1817, the
rebel organization was spread over Uva, Wellassa, Walapane and Atabage, and was
strong enough to attack to the British regimes in upcountry. The Governor of Ceylon had ordered to send a
military battalion comprised of British and Laskirinna[LASCOREYNS] Sihala [up
country and lowcountry], 50 British soldiers
and 100 other soldiers under the command of Hajji Muhandiram to control the
movement, but the rebel army commanded by Kivulegedara Mohottala destroyed and
dispersed them [26th September, 1817]. The British Government had
recruited 1,000 foreign trained army soldiers from India and Malaya by, August
1817, but they were not trained enough to battle in the upcountry hilly terain environment. Kivulegedara killed Hajji Mohandiram, himself.
This happened on 26th, September 1817. Next, after nearly a month, Sylvester Wilson
went with 100 British soldiers and 250 lascoreynes army battalion with Sinhala and
Malay soldiers on 16th. October, 1817, and the rebel leaders killed
Commander Wilson, and destroyed the British army in couple of days. By April 1818, the movement was so strong and
confidence of the rebels were growing. The
rebel leaders were convincing Sinhala leaders in Kandy to take part in the
Rebel Movement, and it was realized with joining of Pilimathalawe, Allepola,
and Madugalla. Ahelepola had joined to
rebel on 01st, November 1817.
Until Keppetipola joined to them,
Kivulegedara and Kohukumbure rateRala handled the command in Wellassa and
Uva. Since early November, 1818 Joining
of kappetipola Disawe and other nobles such as
Daladagama Rateral, Madugalla Nilame, Pilimathalawe Nilame, Peradeni Raterala, Dunuwila Disawa, Eeriagama
Nilame, Allepola Nilame Kataragama Dissawa, and Weliwita Raterala, could
reinforced the strength of rebellions and made the rebel movement so strong enough
nearly to capture the British rulers and the army in Kandy.
It is widely aware that
KIVULEGEDARA PUNCHI BANDARA MOHOTTALA alias WALAPANE DISSAWA was among the
initiative leaders of THE GREATE REBELLION OF 1818. He was the Commander - in -Chief in Badulla
Territory to the Rebellion of 1818. He
was the chief organizer to the rebellion during 1817 -1818. Now, we complete almost 200 years since the
date of the rebellion was defeated. This article is prepared in commemoration
of great Kivulegedara Punchi bandara Mohottala and Walapane Dissawa, and all
other leaders sacrified their lives, wives, sons, daughters, and their
relatives, and their all properties.
3. DEFEAT OF THE REBELLION, 1818
The
rebellion broke out over five kandyan District on 12th October
1818. By January, 1818, rebellion could
get under control 65 percent of the kandyan kindom including, Matale, southern
part of Thamankaduwa, southern part of Nuwarakalaviya, Mahiyanganaya,
Monaragala and Wellassa, south Kandy regions, Athugalpura, Walapane and
Badulla. Meanwhile, some upcountry nobles were not participated in rebel, and
there has been some contradiction between local Buddhist priest and such that
nobles. The nobles did not support to
rebels were critically criticized by the local Buddhist priests, and this
turned to a disaster. Some of those
nobles were become broke with priests and joined to British intelligence
service on contract and aggressively served in the intelligence panel of John
D’Oyley and Sawers. Information of
rebels, their locations, names of leaders, travelling sites of rebel regiments,
etc., On the other hand, the rebels
could hardly get information of British military plans and their movements. was passed these spy groups to British
secretariats in kandy The British rule was threatened, and Governor, Robert
Brownrigg pronounced proclamation and issued in January 1818 to rebel leaders
if surrender to military to grant excuse.
Since then, many local leaders and some rebels broke away with spy
services of British. This move of rebels
hampered the strength of rebellion.
The Governor Robert Brownrigg, with
advice of the British administration in Kandy had strengthened the British army
with Indian and Malay soldiers with new imported weapons The Governor had earlier received the reports
on the strength of the rebels. The
Governor had advised his military to enter hamlets by groups and to be ravage
and tactful to trace their food and ammunition supply to the rebels. The military was brutalized and fatal to
civil mass.
The Rebel militarists having
progressed tremendously towards Kandy during August and September, 1818, suddenly
happened to face severe attacks of the British army in three war fronts. Having faced to Serious damages to rebel
fronts, the leaders of the rebel teams decided to turn back, due mainly to lack
of gun powder. The leaders assured that
it happened only to setback temporarily, and planned to militarize all the
teams of rebels. But the power of
British military in the Kandyan regions was assured with new weapons and
adequate gunpowder.
The British military force in
upcountry consisting manned 15,000 soldiers camped and stationed in different
sites was considered strongly enough to control the rebels. Majority of the British army was made of
native militia comprising upcountry and low country Sinhala “laskirinna”[lascoreynes]
battalions. And Indian and Malay
soldiers were hired and settled in different camp sites in upcountry to help
British soldiers.
The British Army, with
foreign militaries and local soldiers, began to trampled down the
rebellions’ native army [rebels’ army], searching and attacking to hiding camps
and other places during, September, October and
November, 1818. Kivulegedara
Mohottala and some other leaders gathered dispersed rebels, i. e. 150 rebels of
Allepola Nilame [after his death, 200 rebels of Pilimathalawa and Jayasundara
Nilame, and wee setting back towards Nuwarakalaviya, specially to their centre
at Sigiriya, to meet Monarawila keppetipola, Madaugalle Nilame, and
Pilimathalawe Nilame, as they had earlier planned, to set their plan to
reinforce rebel forces and to commence second round attack to British
Army.
This
was taken place during October, 1818.
But, this was not successful due to British Army had, in advance, placed
their preventive camps alongside, Mahawa, Kalawewa, Dambulla, Kekirawa, and
Mihintale to guard and to get under custody the leaders of the rebellion,
preventing them fleeting to south and eastern parts of the Nuwarakalaviya. The British had established earlier, their
main military camps in Kurunagala,
Matale, Naula, and Wasgamuwa. It
was seen hard and certainly difficult for rebel leaders to move to Vanni, through Laggala, Rattota and Matale.
The situation was looked good by
September 1818. But, British military
had strengthened with new weapons and regiments. The natives who served in the British Army
were so reinforced to proceed in the field with Indian and Malay troops of
soldiers. Kivulegedara Mohottala had
planned and adopted a system that organizing groups to attack to enemies who
come in similar groups, hiding in bush paths. The Sinhala rebel leaders were
planning to get support of that laskirinna [lascoreynes] Sinhala battalion, but
it was not successful. Meanwhile, it was
observed that a majority of rebel soldiers and few leaders had fled away from
the rebel movement. On this ground, Sinhala rebel leaders were agreed
temporarily to set backwards and fleet for safety places in Vanni villages and
remote places in eastern Wellassa.
The leaders and rebels who decided to fleet Vanni, agreed to gather at
Sigiriya, and plan to train new militarists, for a second round attack to
British army again. Madugalla,
Pilimathalawa, Keppetipola and Kivulegedara planned to meet at Sigiriya before
end of September, 1818. They decided to
move by groups from upper Wllassa to Sigiriya. But, this plan was unsuccessful, because
British army groups were stationed to guard and follow fleeting rebels and rebel
leaders. Keppetipola came to Bibile, Medagama and advised his 200 militants to
disperse in groups to safety places. Madugalle
and Pilimathalawe with their team of 120 rebels moved from Elahara to Sigiriya
in end of October, 1818. In two weeks,
they were caught in a jungle village by British army. Kappetipola Disawe and some other leaders of
the rebel army planned to flee for south Vanni region via Mahiyangana, Laggala,
Raththota, Aluvihare,
The Great rebellion of 1818,
was controlled by the end of December, 1818 by the British Army. The Rebels AND
THEIR LEADERS COMPRISED of the trained militants, [the militant militia of the Sinhala natives], organized and lead
by the Sinhala customary rulers, against to the British rule in the Kandian
region, AND CEYLON AT ALL were operating in the fronts alongside the
Walapane, Uva, and Wellassa, since January, 1817. There had neen an internal disagreement among
nobles on declaration by wilbawe [Doraysamy] as king, untill keppotipola
joining to the rebellion. GRADUALLY MANY NOBLES JOINED TO THE REBELLION. The
rebellion movement was growing tremendously since November, 1817 to September,
1818. Since end of September, 1818 the
rebels began to set back due mainly to recurrent defeat in the frontS in uva-
wellassa, before the organized military
forces of the British, with hired trained indian and malay soldiers, with new weapons.
Hombawa, Galewela, Moragolla to
Kalawewa. Later, they changed the root,
and walked from Laggala through Elahara, Kandalama, Andiyagala to Paravahagama, where his elder
sister was living. He did not know that
there was a British army camp in kalawewa.
This village is very closed to kalawewa. Keppetipola and his team of
rebels were caught by British army on 02nd November, 1818 at
Parawahagama village near Kalawewa.
On the leadership of
Wariyapola Thero, a group of leaders such as Madugalla Nilame, Pilimathalawe,
Jayasundera Nilame and Kivulegedera Mohottala, the leaders were planning to
reorganize the movement under the leadership of a person identified as
descending from a royal family of King Wimaladharmasuriya 1. They planned to assemble at Alahara or
Sigiriya in second week of October 1818.
This proposal for treaty to reorganize and reinforce the movement was
reassessed by some leaders in different ways.
The movement for this new proposal was seemed to be in lagging behind
due to lack of weapons and gunpowder.
Meanwhile, the British army was reinforced with 15,000 Sinhala, Indian
and Malay soldiers with new weapons, and was stationed to trace the tracks
fleeting by rebels.
According to written evidence, Kivulegedara Mohottala and few leaders
with 600 [350 joined at Wasgamuwa] rebels were travelling towards Sigiriya, and
stationed at Elahara. In few days they
received message that several teams of British military were moving from Minipe
to Elahara and Sigiriya. Kivulegedara
Mohottala advised to others to fleet to safe jungle village areas in groups and
to settle there. He explained, his plan
was to move to western part of Vanni with a group of 20 rebels. End of October, 1818 he could reach to
Ritigala, which was the most safety site for his group. At this time rebel leaders who reached to
southern Vanni areas were communicating with each other.
In end of October, 1818,
Madugalla and few other leaders were captured by the British Army. Moneawila Keppetipola was captured by a group
of British army camped at Kalawewa. He
was surrendered to British army
while he and his military were at Parawahagama village, near Andiayagala,
Kalawewa. It was said that he was surrendered on 2nd, November,
1818, when he was hiding at his sister’s house, in that village. Since then, rebel leaders gradually became
convinced themselves, that it is time for rebels to set back to safety
places. The rebels dispersed in groups
to jungles for their survival, and later they found ruined ancient irrigation
systems and small tanks, which were looked worth to be rehabilitated for shelter
and producing their own food. These are the purana villges
at present.
The British Government in Ceylon had
issued accusation and charge against to Kivulegedara Mohottala for killing of
identified 211 citizens of Ceylon and British military persons, and
organization of people against to the King of the British Empire. The Governor had issued an order to the
British military to catch and take under custody.
4. KIVULEGEDARA MOHOTTALA FLEETED
TO VANNI WITH HIS SON
According to customary written
documents, Kivulegedara PunchiBandara Mohottala, son of Iriyagama Nilame, and
Madugallewith his other leaders and rebel army of 600 battalion, as 50 in one
groups, began to flee for Western Vanni Region, passing, Mahiyangana,
Wasgamuwa, and Elahara. In Elahara,
rebels adviced to move in groups to suitable places. Kivulegedara and some
other rebels moved to Seegiriya, and reached to Ritigala range. Suddenly they received news that, Keppotipola
and other leaders, and their battalion was surrendered [on 02nd November,
1818] and captured by British Army Regiment located in Kalawewa. This was bad news for Kivulegedara Mohottala and
other leaders, and they decided to separate in groups and to set back to
different areas in central Vanni villages.
Kivulegedara Mohottala with his 15 battalion, began to fleet through Muriyankadawala,
Thirappane, Eppawala, Mahagalkadawala, and reached to Hathgalgulkada Aranya
Senasanaya located by the side of the Kala Oya valley. He advised his battalion where and how they
could proceed to secure places, and as he advised rebels moved for nearby
villages. He had advised to his people to live in disguised way, and not to
give chance to peoples to discover and suspect them as the rebels, and to keep
all personal information very secret.
They strongly advised not to leak their family information and any
matter about Uva –Wellassa. They were
asked to live escaped from some nobles living in eastern and southern hamlets
in the Nuwarakalaviya, as they were supporters of the British rule, and helpers
of Eknaligoda Nilame and Molligoda Nilame.
Kivulegedara Mohottala advised his elder
brother’s elder son named Kivulegedera Sanje Bandara and his three other
helpers to move to Vitikuliya and Magalla villages, provided route information
and Names of key persons there to keep in their mind for anytime to get help
when it arise. He advised thoroughly not
to reveal to anyone about the personal information, because Muslim traders from
other districts are usually visiting to these villages. The British used to pay money to these
traders to get information about rebels.
Kivulegedara
Mohottal advised his elder son Kivulegedara Tikiri Bandara Seerala to move,
with his 3 assistant persons, from Hathgalgulkada, via Giribawa, crossing kala
Oya, via Rajanganaya, Thumbulla to Vanni Willachchi Pattu, where there are a number of Vanni villages
which are very safe for them.
Kivulegedara Mohottala advised to his son as he had advised to the other
team moved towards Nikaweratiya. They moved as advised and reached to a village
called Dunumandalawa, and settled there.
Kivulegedara Mohottala had advised them exactly, and he informed them
that he should go back to Uva. And he promised them to come back to this
Hathgalgulkada in one or two years. He,
on 12th November 1818, started his journey to Uva.
The Governor, Robert Brownrigg had issued a proclamation on
12th December 1818 to give
reward of 500 gold pagodi to one who kill or get capture under custody
“Kivulegedara Mohottala”, who was the last leader to catch. British had information since second week of
September of 1818 that Kivulegedara Mohottala was hiding in steep jungle
terains in Badulla, but he had fled to Nuwarakalaviya in end of September with
his son and relatives, and he alone came back to Badulla in end of October
1818. The Governor had issued notificationon 12th December that
Kivulegedara Mohottala still alive and ordered to trace his fleet in Bibile and
Monaragala.
Again, Governor had pronounced on 23rd
December that two main leaders, Kivulegedara Mohottala Disawa and Meegaskumbura
Nilame, remaining to get under custody, and issued order to catch and present
to court, and to declare that rebellion is successfully quelled by British
Army.
But he could not go back to
Nuwarakalaviya, as he was captured by British Army at Madagama, Bibile [on 26th
January 1819]. King crowned as Kandyan
King, Sooryawansa Wilbawe, had respected Kivulegedara pronouncing his full
name: “Weera Vanni Banhara Kivulegedara Aluth Punchi bandaa Mohottala
Disawe”. Kivulegedara had went back to
Uva by 30th November 1818. As
he promised he had been on the way coming back to Nuwarakalaviya, he was
traced, and followed by British army and he happened to surrender to them on 18th,
January 1818, Bibile Medagama..
WEERA VANNI BANDARA
KIVULEGEDARA ALUTH PUNCHI BANDARA MOHOTTALA DISAWE HAD RETURNED TO UVA BY 30TH NOVEMBER. AS HE PROMISED WHILE HE WAS BACK TO
NUWARAKALAVIYA, HE WAS SURRENDERED TO BRITISH ARMY AT MEDAGAMA ON 18TH
JANUARY 1819.
5.
MENIKRALAGE KAVURALA- THIRD GRANDSON GENERATION OF
KIVULEGEDARA MOHOTTALA
Menikralage Kaurala Mudianse had descendants
information of Kivulegedera Mohottala. This
informant, Kaurala, was born in 1882
in Illandagaswea Puranagama, in Madyama Nuwaragam
Palatha, Batahira Nuwaragam Korale, in Nuwara Kalaviya, Anuradhapura.
He was a famous indigenous Doctor{vedarala] and who could use
supernatural powers to practice yanthra manthra and shanthikarma. He has given an account of Kivulegedera
descent. He has explained that they are
belonged to Rawanadhi Yakka descency in Lanka, and belonged to the clan of
Vanni Bandara [Giri Wamsa]. Further, he had explained that the King
Wimaladharmasuriya was close relative [blood relations] of Kivulegedara descent
paramparawa.
Illandagahawea puranagama Menikralage
Kaurala has explained that son of Kivulegedara who settled in Dunumandalawa has
secretly explained his sons about his clan and this was secretly passed by
generation to generation but not endeavored or leaked out to others. These descendants have practiced their
heritage such as worship to Lord Rawana Devi, worship to Aiyanayaka Devi and
Pulleyar, Practice of Wee Malle Ceremony, pray and sacrifies to wedi yakka [wadi
yakun pideema] Practice of Mutti Nammeme Ceremony and Gambhara Deva
Mangalya, and they used to practice indigenous medicine and manthra/
shanthikarma, as they had learned all these from Thabbowe Gurunnanse.
According to the information given by Kaurala Vedarala[born in 1882], the
name of the son of Kivulegedara Punchi Bandara Mohottala [born in 1774], was Kivulegedara
Tikiri Bandara Seerala [born in 1798], who migrated and settled in Dunumandalawa in Willachchi Korale. He had two sons and two daughters. Elder son
was Seeralage Baddarala [born in 1824], and second son was Seeralage Ungurala [born
in 1827]. Name of elder daughter was
Seeralage Bisomenike [born in 1829], and name of other daughter was Seeralage
kathirinahami [born in 1833].
Kivulegedara’s son Tikiri Banda
Seerala learned indigenous science from Thabbowe Vedarala, developed kumburu/paddy
lands and restored irrigation and tanks, and participated anniversary ceremonies
at Thabbowe devalaya for God Rawana, God Aiyanaka and Wediyak and Pulleyar. His
[Seerala’s] second son Ungurala at his young age went to Thabbowe Gurunnase to
learn Hela Science and settled there. He
had no children [due to natural abortions- a female defect ]. Young daughter of Tikiri Bandage Seerala,
named Seeralage kathirinahami was caught by devil vision and suffered from a
mental disease and died at her young age.
The other daughter married and lived in that village. Kivulegedara Mohottala’s first line grandsons
are: 1. Seeralage Baddarala[1824] and 2. Seeralage Ungurala[1827].
Seeralage Baddara moved to village
Eeththikulama, and married there, and developed paddy lands. Additionally he used to go on trade by cart
stocks from Puttalama with salt and dry fish supplying for Vanni villages in
Nuwaragam kalaviya. Seeralage Baddarala
had two sons and one daughter: elder son was Baddaralage Menikrala [born in
1858]; second son was Baddaralage Dingirala [born in 1861]; and daughter was
Baddaralage Menikhami [born in 1864].
Elder son Baddaralage Menikrala moved to village Ahatuwagama, and
married there, developed paddy lands and irrigation, and partly involved in
trading food stuffs, and he later moved to Illandagaswewa and maintained a shop
there. He used to lend money on signed
lending notes to village level businessmen.
Second son of Baddarala, called Baddaralage Dingirala used to hunting in
Willachi-wilpatthu jungle, and faced with an attack of wild bear, and wounded,
but escaped. However he died after few
years of treatment. Baddaralage
Menikrala [1858] who survived was the Kivulegedara Mohottala’s second line
grandson [generation].
By 1800 A.C., there were no
many settlements of Srilankan natives in Nuwarakalaviya, except a few jungle
villages dispersed in remote jungle areas, where native inhabitants lived by
chena and paddy farming and hunting.
After 1818 great rebellion was defeated, many rebels migrated to jungle
areas in the Nuwarakalaviya, rehabilitated and restored ancient small tank
irrigations, and settled there. They
lived hiding in these jungle villages dending on agriculture for fifty years, until the
British rule implemented land regulations, land surveys and mapping out of land, which was implemented since
1865, and onwards. The Most of the main
tanks and irrigation systems in Nuwarakalaviya, Anuradhapura district were
rehabilitated since 1890, and on wards. Ancient seven villages of the
Guardians [came from India in 3rd century B.C.] to attend to service to the Shri Maha Bodhi
in Anuradhapura, began to rehabilitate since 1890, and
many of them were resettled from Kandy customary villages. Thisa Wewa and Nuwara Wewa
were restored by british government in 1870 -1890, and sold crown lands to
native community who could afford to buy lands. poor natives could not buy
lands. The native leaders commenced
rahabilitation of temples and budhist shrines in Anuradhapura and Mihinthale
since 1900s. British allowed temples to declare to rheir
lands.
Baddaralage Menikrala had two sons:
elder son was Menikralage Kaurala Mudianse [born in 1882]; and second son was
Menikralage Puncirala[born in 1886].
Second son Menikralage Punchirala married from Dunupatha Megahawewa, and
he had two daughters.
Elder
son of Baddaralage Menikrala, called Menikralage kaurala lived in
Illandagaswewa and married Laparala Vedaralage Loku Ethanihami Ranmenika, and
he had one son called Kauralage Dingiri Banda [born in 1914]. After 12 years of his son’s birth, Kaurala’s
wife, called “Laparala Vedaralage Loku Ethanihami Ranmenika”, was caught by
devil effects, and was with mentally violent misconducts with relatives, and
after few years she died from a mental disorder. Kaurala did not marry again and lived with
his son Dingiri Banda. Menikralage
Kaural Mudiyanse belonged to the third line grandson generation of Kivulegedara
Mohottala.
Kauralage
Dingiri Banda [born in 1914] married Manthriralage Girangiethana in 1940, and
he had a daughter and a son; name of daughter was Dingiri Bandage Malihami [born
in 1942]. And after few years Dingiri Banda’s wife Girangiethan died from a
witchcraft evil [bandana-kodivina] at the time she was pregnant, in
1946. Kavuralage Dingiri banda had a son
from his second marriage with Malhamy Wedaralage Muthumenike, named Dingiri
Bandage Dharmadasa, alias Dingiri Bandage Dharmadasa Tennakoon [born in
November,1948], who is still alive. Kauralage
Dingiri Banda died on 14th April, 1949 after having eaten poisonous food given by an unknown
person. Dingiri Banda’s Daughter Malihami at her young age, when she was about
30 yrs. Old, she was caught by severe
devil vision and evils. According to
medical reports, she was caught by a severe mental effects which affected on
her behavior. She was violent in some
times, and become calm in other times, but was under medical care. She died in Angoda Hospital in 1971. Kauralage Dingiri Banda was the fourth
line[generation] grandson of Kivulegedara Mohottala. Dingiri Bandage Dharmadasa alias Dingiri Bandage Dharmadasa
Tennakoon [still alive] is the fifth line [generation] grand son of
Kivulegedara Punchi Bandara Mohottala.
After death of his son Dingiri Banda,
and granddaughter Malihami, Menikralage Kaurala Mudianse lived alone with help
of some peasants. Baiya Henemama, Bali Redinanda
and her sons, and Tikiri Redinanda [friends of a dauby family], with other
relatives helped him to manage his lands,
and cattle. He gradually financially failed, as people did not repay loans
taken by sign credit notes, and due to prevailed recurrent drought at the
time. He sold his antique properties to visiting
traders, and jewelries to the visiting Muslim traders to earn his cost of
living. After completion of 96 years of
age, Menik Ralage Kaurala Mudianse died in 1978, in Illandagahawewa Puranagama,
in Madyama Nuwaragam Palatha, in Nuwarakalaviya [Anuradhapura].
Note: This article is prepared
using the information given by Menik Ralage Kaurala Mudianse, who lived in
Illandagahawewa Puranagama in Anuradhapura; as he had expressed himself that
all these information has been securely passed by generation to generation.
6. ILLUSTRATION OF DECENDANTS
OF KIVULEGEDARA MOHOTTALA
We can
illustrate the information of Kivulegedara Punchibanda Mohottala’s descendants
and consanguinity relations in Nuwarakalaviya in new settlements afer the
defeat of the Great rebellion of 1818.
This illustration was based on the information provided by late
Manikralage Kavurala Midianse, who lived in Illandagahawewa puranagama, in
Madyama Nuwaragam Palatha, Nuwarakalaviya [Anuradhapura].
1.
Kivulegedara Punchibandara Mohottala,
Walapane Dissawa: born in 1774 in Badulla, Died in January, 1819, in Bibile,
Madagama. Wife of Kivulegedara
Mohottala was “Heenthanne Kumari Ethanahamy”, alias “Menike Kumarihamy Ethanahamy” born in 1778
in Walapane. Caught by British army in
September 1818. House was burned by
British army.
2.
Elder son of Kivulegedara Mohottala, named
as Tikiribandara Seerala; born in 1798 in Badulla. Daughter, Muthumenike Ethanahamy, alias
Menike Ethanahamy, born in 1800, safely escaped from the British army, but no
information about where they lived.
Younger son, Chullabandara, born in 1803, in Badulla, safely escaped
form British army, but no information about where he lived.
3.
Tikiribandara Seeala[born in 1798]:
1. Son, Seeralage
Baddarala [born in 1824].
2.
Son, Seeralage Ungurala [born in 1827]
[this
is first line grandsons of Kivulegedara]
4.
Seeralage Baddarala [born in 1824]:
1. Baddaralage
Menikrala [born in 1858].
2. Baddaralage Dingirala [1861].
[this
is second line grandsons of Kivulegedara]
5.
Baddaralage Menikrala [born in 1858]:
1.Menikralage
Kaurala [born in 1882].
2. Menikralage Punchirala[born in 1886]
[this
is third line grandsons of
Kivulegedara].
6.
Menikralage Kavurala [born in 1882]:
1.
Son, Kavuralage Dingiribanda[bornin
1914].
[this
is fourth line grandsons of Kivulegedara].
7.
Kauralage Dingiribanda [born in 1914]:
1.
Dingiribandage Malihamy [born in 1943].
[died
in angoda Mental Hospital in 1871]
2.
Dingiribandage Dharmadasa alias Dingiri
Bandage Dharmadasa Tennakoon [born in 1949].[still alive].
[this
is fifth line grandsons of Kivulegedara].
By 2018 we complete 200 years
after Great Wellassa Rebel 1818.
ARTICLE
IS Compiled BY DR. D. TENNAKOON
EX. SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW AT HARTI,
COLOMBO.
Edited
on 12.05.2018
This
Article was published in website: <vanniculture.blogspot.com>
Address: Dr. D. Tennakoon. No.6/27 Menik Watta, Kalalgoda, Pannipitiya.
Telephone: 070 262 9584
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