Great Rebellion of 1817–1818
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(Redirected from Uva Rebellion)
| Great Rebellion of 1817-1818 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Kandyan Wars | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Kandyan rebels |  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
| Keppetipola Disawe Wilbawe | Robert Brownrigg | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||
| History of Kandy | |
|---|---|
 This article is part of a series | |
| Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815) | |
| Founding | |
| Sinhalese–Portuguese War | |
| Kandyan Treaty of 1638 | |
| Portuguese Ceylon | |
| Treaty of Batticaloa | |
| Kandyan Wars | |
| Colonial Kandy (1815–1948) | |
| Kandyan Convention | |
| Matale Rebellion | |
| South East Asia Command | |
| Kandy (1948–Present) | |
| Modern Kandy | |
| See also: | |
| An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon | |
| List of Kandyan Monarchs | |
| History of Sri Lanka | |
Kandy Portal |
The Great Rebellion of 1817-1818, also known as the 1818 Uva-Wellassa Uprising, (after the two places it had started), or simply the Uva Rebellionwas the third Kandyan War with the British, in what is now Sri Lanka. It took place in what in know Uva, which was a then a province of the Kingdom of Kandy, against the British colonial government under Governor Robert Brownrigg, which had been controlling the formerly independent Udarata, (Up-Country in Sinhalese). Records state that the Uva Rebellion was the first struggle for gaining Independence from the British.[1]
Contents[hide] |
[edit]Background
The Sinhalese were greatly affected by the administrative policies of the British and were not used to being ruled by a king who lived far away in another continent. This created unrest among the local people and the aristocratic Chiefs in the Kandyan Kingdom.
[edit]Leadership
Keppetipola Disawe was sent initially by the British government to stop the uprising but ended up joining the rebellion as its leader and is celebrated for his actions even today in Sri Lanka. He assisted many regional leaders in providing men and material from various regions. The other leaders who supported this independent movement were: Wilbawe (an alias of Duraisamy, aNayakkar of Royal blood), II Pilima Talauve Adikaram, Kohu Kumbure Rate Rala, Dimbulana Disave, Kivulegedara Mohottala, Madugalle Disave, Butewe Rate Rala, Galagedara Mohottala, Dambawinna Disave and Gode Gedara Adikaram.
[edit]Rebellion
The rebellion was launched by Keppetipola Disawe. Except for Molligoda and Ekneligoda, many Chiefs joined the rebels. The rebels captured Matale and Kandy before Keppetipola fell ill and was captured and beheaded by the British. His skull was abnormal - as it was wider than usual - and was sent to Britain for testing. It was returned to Sri Lanka after independence, and now rests in the Kandyan Museum. The rebellion failed due to a number of reasons. It was not well planned by the leaders. The areas controlled by some Chieves who helped the British provided easy transport routes for British supplies. Doraisami who was said to have a claim to the sinhalese throne was found not to have any relation.[2][3][4][5][6]
[edit]Aftermath
[edit]Casualties
The British confiscated the properties of the people involved in the uprising, they killed all cattle and other animals, burnt homes, property and even the salt in their possession during the repression. Paddy fields in the area of Wellassa were all destroyed. The irrigation systems of the duchies of Uva and Wellassa, hitherto the rice-bowl of Sri Lanka were systematically destroyed.[7]
The British also massacred the male population above the age of 18 years.[8]
[edit]Legacy
In the 'Journal of Uva,' Herbert White, a British Government Agent in Badulla after the rebellion minuted:
"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 up 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."
[edit]Gazette Notification
During the rebellion a Gazette Notification was issued by Robert Brownrigg to condemn all those who rebelled against British Rule in Sri Lanka. All those who participated in the uprising were condemned as “traitors” and their properties confiscated by the government under the notification. Several governments after the independence of Sri Lanka in the past wanted to revoke this ignominious Gazette Notification, however could not take action in this regard. In 2011, the Gazette Notification issued by Governor Brownrigg was brought to Sri Lanka on the instruction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was submitted to the Parliament and was revoked with the signature of the President. This allowed all those who participated in the uprising to be recognised as National Heroes, and their label as traitors erased. A National Declaration was awarded on their behalf to their descendants on Republic Day of Sri Lanka, 22 May.
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