The land of Utuwankanda:

Soora Saradiel

by Husna Inayathullah

The land of Saradiel is the Utuwankanda Hill or Castle Rock. It is in Mawanella located in between Kegalle and Kadugannawa along the Colombo-Kandy main road. The Utuwankanda hill rises 1410 feet and 427 meters above the sea level.

The British colonialists baptised the hill as Castle Rock as at its summit dishes out vantage views all around. Furthest is the Kadugannawa-Kandy mountain pass. On the other side are hill ranges of Batalegala, Urakanda and Aranayake. The Gampola mountain range is behind it.

Utuwankanda hill was once the sanctuary and stronghold of Saradiel (1832-1864). He was known as the Robin Hood of Sri Lanka. Saradiel waylaid stage coaches of British colonialists and bullock carts of Moorish traders travelling from Colombo to Kandy and helped the poor peasants. Saradiel was considered a hero because he sacrificed his life for the betterment of the poor. Saradiel was a great humanitarian who fought against injustice.

Saradiel village beautifully depicts the nature and culture of our country during British reign. Some important events and incidents of Saradiel and lives of others who were related to him in many ways are built by amazing statues connected to the natural environment using an area of six acre.

Later Saradiel left for Colombo and worked as a barrack boy at the Rifle Barracks. He learnt much about weapons. Before leaving he took several firearms with him. Thereafter he took to highway robbery becoming an outlaw. Charges were brought on him for killing Nattukottai Chettiar, a rich merchant and he was arrested. He was set free due to lack of evidence. A warrant for his arrest was issued after a robbery at the Molligoda Walauwa. He then left the area and went to his father in Chilaw. When his father refused to shelter him he returned to the mountain of Utuwankanda which he had made his hideout for numerous raids.

He was arrested at Pillawatte near Negombo after a struggle that led to the police informant being stabbed by him. Saradiel was taken to court in Hulftsdorp, Colombo to stand trial for murder, yet he managed to escape from the Mahara Prison. Later on he was arrested at Utuwankande only to escape again.Returning to Utuwankande hill in Mawanella he formed a gang of robbers, led raids on carriages and coaches on the highway to Kandy from Colombo. Soon these attacks spread to Rambukkana, Polgahawela and Kurunegala, resulting in his exploits becoming famous. He visited his mother one day and in the shootout that ensued he escaped and made his way to Matale.

At this point Sirimale, one of Saradiel's band, defected and became an informant Saradiel and his close aide Mammale Marikkar, the Moor man were arrested on March 12, 1864 following a massive manhunt that began in Kegalle. They both were charged in courts of law conducted in the alien language of English. They were sentenced to death by hanging at Gallows Hill, Kandy on May 7, 1864.

Saradiel distributed much of his plunder among the poor and never stole from them. Due to this he was referred to as the "Robin Hood of Sri Lanka". Much of his raids were targeting British and their native supporters who had gained wealth as the lower and medium levels of the colonial administration. He gained much popularity among the poor villagers who were opposed to the British. As a result many consider his actions just and Saradiel rebel led against the British rule.