Great Rebellion of 1817–1818: Difference between revisions

The rebellion was initiated by disgruntle Kandyan chiefs who were disillusioned by the British administration. It gained initial success with many Kandyan chiefs such as [[Keppetipola Disawe]] sent to suppress it joining the rebel forces. Major Sylvester Douglas Wilson, the [[Resident_minister#British_and_dominion_residents|Assistant Resident]] in Badulla was killed and the rebels soon gained much control over the region. A [[pretender]] to the throne of Kandy, Wilbawe was proclaimed king. Governor Brownrigg established his field headquarters at Kandy and directed military operations against the rebels who had resorted hit and run attacks with the assistance of Kandyan chiefs who remained loyal which included [[Molligoda Nilame|Molligoda Maha Adikaram]] and [[Ratwatte Nilame|Ratwatte Adikaram]]. Brownrigg soon received reinforcements from [[British India]]. Following the capture of many rebels leaders, the rebellion failed as the British forces brutally suppressed the local population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/03/11/sri-lanka-revoke-british-governor%E2%80%99s-infamous-gazette-notification|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102192549/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/03/11/sri-lanka-revoke-british-governor%E2%80%99s-infamous-gazette-notification|title=Sri Lanka is to revoke British Governor's infamous Gazette Notification|archive-date=2 January 2016|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref>

Around this time in September 1817, Major Sylvester Douglas Wilson, the British Assistant Resident and Agent of the British Government in [[Badulla]] received word that a person of [[Malabar Coast|Malabar]] origin had been gathering a following in the Uva Wellasse region with claims to the throne of Kandy. It was said that this person claimed to Wilbawe Mudiyanse Doresami, a former priest who claimed to be a relative of the former king and member of the [[Nayaks of Kandy|Nayak dynasty]]. Wilson dispatched the newly appointed Haji Marikkar Travala Mohandiram with a detachment native soldiers to inquire into the suspected Malabar. Having reached Dankumbura in Bintenne, the Haji Marikkar gained information that Wilbawe along with some priests were at Kehelwella with the [[Vedda]]s. On his way to Kehelwella, he was captured by Bootawe Rate Rala in Wellassa and was killed on Wilbawe's orders on 26 September 1817. After Major Wilson received information of Haji Marikkar's death, he set out from Badulla with a contingent of Malay soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Newman to Wellasse on 14 October 1817. He attempted negotiations with the rebels, but on 16 October 1817, while detached from the rest of the group at a stream close to Bibile with only two servants, Major Wilson and one of his servants were killed by and arrows fired by Meegahapitiya Rate Rala and his men. Lieutenant Newman was unable to recover Wilson's body and it was later clamied to have been decapitated.<ref name="Tennakoon"/>