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On 26 July 1848, the leaders and the supporters entered the historic [[Dambulla]] [[Vihara]] and at 11.30 a.m., Gongalegoda Banda was consecrated by the head monk of Dambulla, Ven. Giranegama Thera. Gongalegoda Banda was called "Sri Wickrama Subha Sarva Siddhi Rajasinghe". He asked the people whether they were on the side of the Buddhists or the British. On the same day Dines, his brother was declared the sub-king and Dingirala as the uncrowned king of the ''Sat Korale'' (Seven [[Counties]]). Veera Puran Appu was appointed prime minister and the sword bearer to Gongalegoda Banda and attended his consecration ceremony with 4000 others.
After the proclamation of the king, he with his army left Dambulla via [[Matale]] to capture Kandy from the British. They attacked government buildings including the Matale ''[[Kachcheri]]'' and destroyed some of the tax records. Simultaneously, Dingirirala instigated attacks in [[Kurunegala]], where eight people were
Puran Appu was taken prisoner by the British troops and was executed on 8 August. Gongalegoda Banda and his younger brother Dines escaped and went into hiding. Gongalegoda Banda lived in a cave at [[Elkaduwa]], {{convert|13|km|mi}} from [[Matale]]. Torrington issued a warrant for his arrest with a reward of £150 for information on his whereabouts. On 21 September, he was arrested by [[Ceylon Rifle Regiment|Malay soldiers]] — although he offered resistance before his arrest - and was brought from Matale to [[Kandy]] where he was kept a prisoner.
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