Wansapurna Dewage David alias Gongalegoda Banda (a.k.a. Peliyagoda David) (13 March 1809 – 1 December 1849 ) was the leader of the Matale rebellion in 1848,

pretender to the throne A pretender is someone who claims to be the rightful ruler of a country although not recognized as such by the current government. The term is often used to suggest that a claim is not legitimate.Curley Jr., Walter J. P. ''Monarchs-in-Waiting'' ...

of Kandy and a national hero of Sri Lanka.

Early life

Born on 13 March 1809 in Peliyagoda ( Wanawasala) as the second son of Wansapurna Dewage Sinchia Fernando, he had been employed by the police and was engaged in transport work on the Kandy road and came to reside at Gongalegoda, Udunuwara where he became a popular figure among the Kandyans. At the age of 35 he married the daughter of Gongalegoda Menik Rala.

1848 Rebellion

He was seen at the Dalada Maligawa just before the Matale rebellion broke out. Gongalegoda Banda led the protest march regarding unjustifiable taxes which was held on 6 July 1848 near the Kandy Kachchery. The rebellion was the first major uprising against the British since the Uva Rebellion in 1818. The anti-colonial movement on the island in 1848 was led by leaders such as Gongalegoda Banda, Puran Appu, Dingi Rala who were supported by many of the local people.

Proclamation of the king

On 26 July 1848, the leaders and the supporters entered the historic Dambulla Vihara and there Gongalegoda Banda was crowned by the head priest of Dambulla, Ven. Giranegama Thera. According to the head priest of Dambulla, Gongalegoda Banda was called 'Sri Wickrama Siddapi' and spoke fluently in his own language, Sinhala. He asked the people, "whether you are on the side of the Buddhist? or British?" On this historic day Dines, his brother was declared the sub-king and Dingirala as the prince of Sath Korale. Puran Appu was appointed as the prime minister or the sword bearer to Gongalegoda Banda. Puran Appu attended the consecration ceremony of Gongalegoda Banda with 400 others. After the proclamation of the king, he left Dambulla with his army via Matale to capture Kandy from the British. On 28 July 1848 they raided

Fort MacDowall Fort MacDowall was located in Matale. It was a fortified outpost during the Kandyan Wars, named after Major general, Major General Hay MacDowall, the 6th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon, Commander of British Troops in Ceylon. The fort was one o ...

in Matale causing much loss to the British amidst well fortified resistance. They attacked government buildings specially the Matale Kachcheri and destroyed the tax records. Simultaneously, Dingirirala instigated attacks in Kurunegala, where eight people were killed by the British. The British Governor, Lord Torrington, declared

martial law Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Martia ...

on 29 July 1848 and 31 July in Kandy and Kurunegala respectively.

The Rebellion fails

The rebellion was aborted after several Korale Mahattayas betrayed the rebels for rewards from the British, resulting in the arrest of Puran Appu on 29 July 1848 at Wariyapola. Gongalegoda Banda and his elder brother Dines escaped and went into hiding. The Governor issued a warrant on Gongalegoda Banda for his arrest and a reward of 150 pounds to be given to anyone who gave information of his whereabouts.

Trial and exile

On 21 September 1848, Gongalegoda Banda was arrested by the Malay soldiers at

Elkaduwa Elkaduwa ( sinhala:ඇල්කඩුව, Tamil:எல்கடுவ ) is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Matale District, Central Province.There are two roads to reach Elkaduwa. One is from Ukuwela (Matale), the other one is from ...

and was brought to Kandy. The trial of Gongalegoda Banda commenced on 27 November at the Supreme Court sessions in Kandy. He was charged of high treason for claiming he himself as the King of Kandy, declaring as a descendant of the Kandy Kings, ongoing and waging war against the British. Banda declared that he was guilty of all the above charges. The judgement of the Supreme Court was that he would be hanged on 1 January 1849. However, on an appeal made by Gongalegoda Banda to the Governor, a proclamation was issued on 29 December 1848 to commute the death sentence to one hundred flogs and being sent into exile. On 1 January 1849, Gongalegoda Banda was flogged one hundred times in Kandy before a large gathering of people and sent into exile in

Malacca Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has bee ...

(now Malaysia). Governor Lord Torrington writing a dispatch to the Secretary of State informed that deportation for life was more effective than death penalty. By deporting Gongalegoda Banda, the Governor had (according to him) instilled a permanent fear among the inhabitants for future rebellion against the British rule. Gongalegoda Banda who was exiled to Malacca arrived there on 3 May 1849. He died of a stomach ailment on 1 December 1849 in Malacca, which was reported by Tikiri Banda Dunuwila who was also exiled there.160th Death Anniversary of Gongalegoda Banda
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References

External links

53rd Death Anniversary on December 1 : Gongalegoda Banda - Leader of the 1848 Rebellion, by Dr. K. D. G. Wimalaratne, Director, National Archives

* ttp://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/11/21/sports/03.asp Matale rebellion remembered, By Kirthi Hulangamuwa
Gongalegoda Banda in Sinhala
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gongalegoda Banda 1809 births Sri Lankan independence activists Kandyan period National Heroes of Sri Lanka Prisoners and detainees of British Ceylon 1849 deaths People of the Kingdom of Kandy Sri Lankan military leaders People from Kandy