Sri Lankan government has decided to revoke a centuries old gazette notification that will make Uva Wellassa rebels, war heroes. Sir Robert Brownrigg, the then governor of the British rule in Sri Lanka had issued this gazette notification which named and shamed those who took part in1818 Uva-Wellassa Uprising as traitors and their assets confiscated.
Sir Robert Brownrigg was the Governor under whose personal command the Kandyan kingdom, which had lasted for over two thousand years, was captured by British forces and its territory annexed to the coastal area of Ceylon which was already ruled from London. Sir Robert Brownriggs Chief Justice, Sir Harding Giffard had sarcastically described stubborn an guilty of errors which caused unnecessary bloodshed during the troubles of 1818
The government has re-named the rebellion as patriotic struggle, according to Cultural Affairs Minister T.B.Ekanayaka. The Minister said that the government has brought down the gazette notification from Britain, and it would be retracted by a Presidential decree through another Gazette tabled in Parliament. Accordingly, those participated in the uprising will be given due recognition on National Heroes Day falls on May 22 at the historic ‘Magul Maduwa’ in Kandy. One hundred families who are descendents of them are expected to attend this ceremony.