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Sri Lankan history:
King Wimaladharmasuriya I
by Husna Inayathullah
King Wimaladharmasuriya I was originally known as Konappu Bandara.He
ruled the country from 1591 to 1604. He was the son of Wirasundara
Bandara who was left in charge of Udarata when Rajasinha conquered
Udarata in 1582. Wirasundara Bandara rebelled and was killed by
Rajasinha.
 Konnapu Bandara escaped to the Portuguese and was baptised as Dom
Joao of Austria. Konappu joined the Portuguese army and rose to the rank
of Mudaliyar. In the 1587 siege of Kotte Konappu was on the side of the
Portuguese attacking from inside the fort. He was once banished to Goa
for breaking the law. He acquired a reputation for his bravery and
military skill both at Goa and Kotte.
When the Udarata revolted against Rajasinha in 1590, Konappu went up
with the Portuguese expedition that placed the Portuguese nominee,Dom
Felipe on the throne. Dom Felipe died suddenly. Konnapu took control,
expelled Felipe's infant son, renounced Christianity,reverted to
Buddhism and taking the name of Wimaladharmasuriya proclaimed himself
king of Udarata.
The Portuguese sent an army to eject him and place Dona
Catherina(Kusumasena Devi) on the throne. She was the daughter of
Karaliyadde, ruler of Udarata from 1552 to 1582. Wimaladharmasuriya
defeated the entire Portuguese force at Danture (1594) captured
Catherina and married her. This legitimised his claim to the throne.
Udarata accepted Wimaladharmasuriya as their king and stood firmly
behind him. When Dharmapala died (1597) the Sinhalese in Kotte also
treated Wimaladharmasuriya as their king. They turned to him for support
against the Portuguese. He was the only Sinhala king left.
The Portuguese saw Wimaladharmasuriya as a usurper and were
determined to get rid of him. Wimaladharmasuriya was ready for them.He
had fortified the approach to Udarata. There were fortified posts at
Budassagoda, Alutnuwara and Ganetenna with forts at Mottappuliya,
Kirivallapitiya and Talampitiya in close proximity to the Portuguese
forts.
When the Portuguese invaded Udarata in 1603,Wimaladharmasuriya
defeated them at Balana.
This was a positive victory for him. He got the lascarins to desert
and simultaneously launched a diversionary attack at Talampitiya in
Satara korale.
Wimaladharmasuriya was a formidable opponent to the Portuguese. He
had fought with the Portuguese so he had an intimate knowledge of their
strengths and weaknesses. He could confront them effectively.He was an
excellent swordsman and a good general.
He led from the front and actively participated in battle. When the
Portuguese moved into the Sath and Satara Korales, Wimaladharmasuriya
took personal command since the Portuguese were within striking distance
of the Udarata frontier. Portuguese soldiers taken prisoner had their
wounds treated, then put to work on building projects.
Wimaladharmasuriya determined the pattern of war. The main theatre of
war was the Sath and Satara Korales, but he instructed the Denawake and
Uva chiefs to raid Sabaragamuwa and Matara to create diversions. When
Portuguese went to subdue Sabaragamuwa, Wimaladharmasuriya attacked at
Batugedera.
Wimaladharmasuriya kept the Portuguese occupied in their own
territory and out of the Udarata. He kept them on the hop. When the
Portuguese went to Matale, Wimaladharmasuriya built a fort at Katuvana.
When they took Attanagalla and moved into Botale, Wimaladharmasuriya
fortified Dedigama.
When the Portuguese were building a fort at Mottappuliya,
Wimaladharmasuriya himself appeared with his army 'on the mountain
above'. In 1603 he stationed himself at Deraniyagala to control the low
country. He sued for peace three times, each time at the height of a
crisis for the Portuguese. He supported rebels in the Portuguese camp,
because they helped to bring the Portuguese to the negotiating table
To be continued ...
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