King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and the end of Kandyan Kingdom

The Tumultuous Reign of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe: A Tale of Power, Betrayal, and Legacy

Introduction: The Rise of a Young Prince

In the late 18th century, the Kandyan Kingdom, nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka, was a realm of intrigue, power struggles, and cultural richness. It was during this period that a young prince named Kannasami, later known as King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, ascended to the throne under extraordinary circumstances. Born into a time of political turbulence, Kannasami’s rise to prominence was orchestrated by the cunning and ambitious Pilimathalawwe Maha Adikaram, the chief minister of the kingdom.

The death of King Rajadhi Rajasinghe in the dead of night was shrouded in secrecy by Pilimathalawwe, who spread the news that the king was gravely ill. In a clandestine meeting with the Anu Nayaka Thero of the Malwathu Temple and other influential chiefs, Pilimathalawwe laid the groundwork for Kannasami’s ascension. The following morning, he announced the king’s dire condition and the urgent need to select a new ruler. With the chiefs’ consent, Kannasami, a mere eight-year-old, was declared the new king and crowned as Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe.

The Early Reign: Consolidation of Power

However, the path to the throne was fraught with challenges. Prince Muththusami, who had harbored aspirations of kingship, contested Kannasami’s claim. To quell potential disputes, Pilimathalawwe imprisoned Muththusami and the consorts of the late king, eventually banishing them from the kingdom. Muththusami sought British assistance to reclaim the throne but was rebuffed and fled to Jaffna. Meanwhile, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s uncle, Gampola Nayakkar, was also imprisoned, and his daughters, en route from Madurai to Kandy, were captured and married off to the king.

Pilimathalawwe’s machinations did not end there. He sought to eliminate potential threats to his power by accusing Erewwa Adikaram and Dambagamuwa Disave of treason. When this failed, he resorted to murder, further alienating the other chiefs. Despite these internal conflicts, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe endeavored to strengthen his rule and restore the kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Achievements and Cultural Revival

King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s reign was marked by significant achievements, particularly in the realm of cultural restoration. He was a pious king who dedicated himself to the spiritual and cultural upliftment of his kingdom. Under his patronage, the arts and architecture flourished. The king commissioned the construction of the Kandy Lake, a monumental project that not only beautified the city but also served as a vital water reservoir. This lake, with its serene waters and picturesque surroundings, remains a testament to his vision and dedication to his people.

The king also played a crucial role in the preservation and promotion of traditional Kandyan dance and music. He supported the revival of these cultural practices, ensuring that they were passed down through generations. His efforts to uphold the kingdom’s cultural identity were instrumental in fostering a sense of unity and pride among his subjects.

The British Threat and Military Campaigns

The ascension of Kannasami to the throne as King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798 coincided with the appointment of Frederick North as the first British Governor of Sri Lanka. This period marked the beginning of a series of clandestine maneuvers and military confrontations that would shape the fate of the Kandyan Kingdom.

Pilimathalawwe, the ambitious Adigar, saw an opportunity in the political shift and initiated secret discussions with Governor North and his Secretary, Hugh Cleghorn, starting in February 1799. Pilimathalawwe’s objective was to secure British support to overthrow the king and seize the throne for himself. Despite his various tactics to provoke the British into action, these attempts initially proved unsuccessful.

In a bid to further his cause, Pilimathalawwe sent a delegation led by Meegasthenna, the second Adigar, to Colombo to negotiate a trade treaty. During these discussions, Meegasthenna even broached the subject of executing the king, but this plan also failed to materialize.

The situation took a dramatic turn in June 1802 when a group of Malay merchants from Puttalam were robbed in Kandy. Governor North demanded compensation from the Kandyan King, but the king’s refusal to respond provided the British with a pretext to declare war against the Kandyan Kingdom.

In January 1803, the British launched a two-pronged military campaign against Kandy. An army led by McDowell advanced from Colombo, while another force under Babrat moved from Trincomalee. The Kandyan King and his chiefs, unprepared for the assault, retreated, allowing the British to capture the citadel with relative ease. On March 3, 1803, the British installed Prince Muththusami as a puppet ruler on March 3, 1803, a move that infuriated Pilimathalawwe.

Seeking revenge, Pilimathalawwe urged the British troops to pursue the king at Hanguranketha. However, the Sinhalese employed guerrilla warfare tactics, resulting in heavy British casualties and enabling King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe to reclaim his throne.

In 1804, Governor North once again planned an attack on Kandy, but internal disputes among his chiefs thwarted the implementation of this strategy. The British Parliament, dissatisfied with North’s performance, decided to dismiss him, leading to his resignation.

In July 1805, Sir Thomas Maitland succeeded North as the Governor. Unlike his predecessor, Maitland adopted a more diplomatic approach, maintaining a peaceful relationship with Kandy. His primary objective was to govern the maritime areas methodically, avoiding direct confrontation with the Kandyan Kingdom.

This period of relative peace under Maitland’s governance provided a brief respite for the Kandyan Kingdom, but the underlying tensions and ambitions of its leaders continued to simmer, setting the stage for future conflicts.

Internal Strife and Betrayal

The reign of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was marred by internal strife and betrayal, largely orchestrated by his ambitious and discontented chief, Pilimathalawwe. Displeased with the king’s rule, Pilimathalawwe sought to destabilize the kingdom from within. He incited rebellions in the regions of Udunuwara and Yatinuwara, aiming to weaken the king’s authority and create chaos.

Pilimathalawwe’s machinations did not stop at inciting rebellion. He resorted to a series of assassination attempts to eliminate the king. He bribed the royal cook to poison the king’s food, the barber to cut the king’s ears and neck, a Malay muhandiram to kill the king, and Siyambalapitiye Satambi to stab the king in the bathroom. However, these sinister plots were uncovered before they could be executed. As a result, Pilimathalawwe, his son, and his nephew Ratwatte were arrested. Following court proceedings, Pilimathalawwe, Ratwatte, and Daulagala Rate Mahaththaya were sentenced to death and executed.

In the aftermath of Pilimathalawwe’s downfall, Ehelepola was appointed as the Chief Adigar, with Molligoda as the Second Adigar. However, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe soon grew dissatisfied with Ehelepola’s actions. During the king’s second marriage ceremony, Ehelepola was sent to Sabaragamuwa, ostensibly to remove him from the center of power.

Molligoda, seizing the opportunity to create discord between the king and Ehelepola, intercepted and distorted the letters sent by Ehelepola to the king. Molligoda informed the king that the golden crown and sword Ehelepola had crafted as wedding gifts were actually intended for Ehelepola’s own coronation. Additionally, Molligoda spread rumors of Ehelepola’s treasonous activities, further poisoning the king’s mind against him.

Despite the king’s orders for Ehelepola to return to the palace and answer the accusations, Ehelepola did not comply. It is believed that Ehelepola never received these summonses, as Molligoda had intercepted and replied to them. Consequently, the king dismissed Ehelepola from his position and appointed Molligoda as the Chief Adigar. In May 1814, the king sent a troop to Sabaragamuwa to capture Ehelepola, but Ehelepola, along with several loyal men, fled to Colombo.

In a brutal act of revenge, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe ordered the massacre of Ehelepola’s family. This ruthless act, along with the king’s growing mistrust and paranoia, led to further atrocities. He ordered the impalement of Mampitiya, the execution of Leuke Disawe of Sathra Korale, who had negotiated a treaty with the Dutch, and the killing of Ven. Parantala Thero.

These acts of brutality and bloodthirstiness eroded the loyalty of the Kandyan people towards their king. The once-pious and culturally revitalizing ruler had become a tyrant, driven by suspicion and vengeance. The internal strife and betrayal that plagued his reign ultimately weakened the Kandyan Kingdom, setting the stage for its eventual downfall at the hands of the British.

The Final Conflict and Downfall

The final chapter of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s reign was marked by a series of brutal events and escalating tensions that culminated in the ultimate downfall of the Kandyan Kingdom. The seeds of this conflict were sown in November 1814, when a group of low-country merchants was captured in Kandy on suspicion of being spies. In a gruesome act of retribution, their arms and legs were severed and sent back to their homeland. This barbaric act incited outrage and provided the British with a casus belli to declare war against the Kandyan Kingdom on January 10, 1815.

The British mobilized their forces from various strategic locations, including Negombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. Governor Sir Robert Brownrigg personally led an army from Colombo, determined to bring the Kandyan Kingdom to its knees. Key Kandyan chiefs, including Molligoda, aligned themselves with the British, swayed by Ehelepola’s assurances that the objective was not to conquer the kingdom but to dethrone the tyrannical king.

However, the British soon revealed their true intentions. When they announced the invasion of Sathara Koralaya, a region ruled by Molligoda, the Kandyan chiefs realized they had been deceived. Despite this betrayal, the British forces pressed on, and on February 14, 1815, a British troop advanced towards Kandy. Faced with the overwhelming might of the British army, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe fled to Medamahanuwara, accompanied by his two queens, Moudy Kannamma and Vankada Rangammal, and a retinue of loyal followers, including Amunugama Bathwadana Nilame, Madugalle Hauwadana Nilame, Madugalle Rate Rala, Polwatte Madampu Rala, Talmuke Paindakarawana Nilame, Arattana Moolachariya, Ambastenne Lekam, and Harispattuwe Sudu Kola.

The British, led by General John D’Oyly, pursued the fleeing king with a formidable force that included Ehelepola, Molligoda, Mudliyar Jayawardhana, a Malay Muhandiram, Ekneligoda Mohottala, Kaudumma Mohottala, Thorawahera Mohottala, Delwala Mohottala, and Mahawalathenna Mohottala. The relentless pursuit culminated on February 18, 1815, when King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was captured at Medamahanuwara Udupitiya Gedara, the residence of Bomure Appurala Arachchi.

Exile, Legacy and end of the Last Kingdom of Sri Lanka

Despite being recorded in history as an iron-hearted king, the narrative of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe is far more nuanced. In the early years of his reign, he was known as a nature-loving monarch who undertook significant construction projects to enhance the beauty and infrastructure of his kingdom. He re-constructed the Bogambara Wewa, built the Kirimuhuda (now known as the Kandy Lake), and constructed the iconic “Paththirippuwa” of the Temple of the Tooth Relic. These contributions were aimed at preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Kandyan Kingdom.

However, the conspiracies and betrayals of his own chiefs, particularly his adigars, gradually nurtured a sense of mistrust and suspicion in the king. This erosion of trust led him down a path of brutality and paranoia. Blinded by the hunger for power and surrounded by treachery, King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe’s reign took a dark turn, ultimately leading to his downfall. He ended his days as a helpless prisoner, far from his motherland, and is thus recorded as the last sovereign king of Sri Lanka.

Twelve days after the king’s capture, a treaty was signed between the British and the Sinhalese. Sir Robert Brownrigg represented King George III of England, while the Sinhalese chiefs represented their people. This treaty effectively vested the ruling power of the entire island in the hands of the British, marking the end of the last kingdom of Sri Lanka.

King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe and his queens were exiled to Vellore, India, aboard the ship “Convolis” on January 24, 1816. Upon their arrival, they were received by high-ranking British officers and housed in the palace of Fletch Hyder, the son of the Sultan of Tripura. The king spent the remaining 17 years of his life in captivity, passing away on January 30, 1832, at the age of 52.

The legacy of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe is a complex tapestry of cultural revival, strategic leadership, and tragic downfall. His efforts to restore and preserve the cultural heritage of the Kandyan Kingdom left an indelible mark on Sri Lankan history. The Kandy Lake, traditional dance, and music he championed continue to be celebrated as symbols of the kingdom’s rich cultural identity.