Matale Rebellion against British rule in Ceylon
- When
- 1848–1849
- Where
- Kandy Kachchery; Matale; Bogambara Wewa; Elkaduwa, Kandy, Malacca
- Episodes
- 4
The Matale Rebellion of 1848 was an anti-colonial uprising in British Ceylon against Governor George Byng. Led by figures such as Gongalegoda Banda and Veera Puran Appu, the conflict arose from unjust taxes and cultural persecution. Key developments included a protest march in July, the capture of Matale, and the subsequent brutal suppression, execution, and exile of the leaders.
Episodes
- Protest March in Kandy
Gongalegoda Banda led a protest march on 6 July 1848 near the Kandy Kachchery against unjust taxes.
- Capture of Matale
Veera Puran Appu initiated an assault on Matale on 28 July 1848, successfully capturing the city.
- Execution of Veera Puran Appu
Veera Puran Appu was executed by firing squad on 8 August 1848 in Matale.
- Arrest and Exile of Gongalegoda Banda
Gongalegoda Banda was arrested in September 1848, sentenced to flogging and exile, and sent to Malacca in 1849.
Background and detail
Leadership. Prominent figures included Gongalegoda Banda, who emerged as a leader and was proclaimed King of Kandy, and Veera Puran Appu. Other leaders included Dingirala, Dines, Diyes, and members of the Paranagama family. These leaders were supported by many local people in the anti-colonial movement on the island.
People involved
- Gongalegoda Banda · Leader of the Matale rebellion, pretender to the throne of Kandy
- Veera Puran Appu · Instrumental leader in leading the Matale Rebellion
- George Byng, 7th Viscount Torrington · Governor of British Ceylon
Sources
- Matale rebellion Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-28
- Gongalegoda Banda Wikipedia, revision of 2026-02-23
- Puran Appu Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-20
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.