Ven.Kudahapola Thera played an important role in the Matale rebellion against British rule in1848. He was born at Kudahapola, a small village on the Narammala Kuliyapitiya bus route. During the rebellion he lived in a temple at Kahalla, a hamlet close to Kandy.

The rebellion was spearheaded by Gongalegoda Banda who wa
nted to be the King of Kandy. Palamakumbure Basnayaka Nilame and his son Kiri Banda informed the British rulers that Ven.Kudahapola Thera knew where Gongalegoda Banda was hiding. When the British troops raided a place believed to have been used by the fugitive ,Gongalegoda Banda was not found there. Thereafter, the British soldiers arrested Ven. Kudahapola Thera on the charge of aiding and abetting the fugitive to run away.

At the subsequent trial, Palamakumbure Basnayaka Nilame and his son gave evidence against the monk. At the end of the trial, the monk was found guilty and was condemned to death.

H.Selby, a Queenâ??s counsel who followed the case very closely informed the British Governor that there was no substantial evidence against the monk to warrant a death penalty. However, the Governor did not change his decision. Ven.Kudahapola Thera was shot dead on August 26,1848. Not only Buddhists, but an English judge too claimed that the monk should have been pardoned and spared his life. There was even an uproar in the British Parliament against the Governorâ??s action. Finally the British government appointed a commission to inquire in to the matter. Following the commission report the Governor and the Secretary General were removed from their posts. Today, we remember Ven. Kudahapola Thera as a national hero.

RSK.

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