Ehelepola Nilame

Ehelepola
Ehelepola Maha Nilame.
Born	Ehelapola Wijayasundara Wickremasinghe Chandrasekara Amarakoon Wasala Ranamuka Mudiyanse 1773 Sinhale
Died	1829 Mauritius
Occupation	Adigar

Ehelapola Wijayasundara Wickremasinghe Chandrasekara Amarakoon Wasala Ranamuka Mudiyanse (Sinhalese: ඇහැලේපොළ මහ නිලමේ; 1773 - 1829) known as Ehelapola Nilame was a courtier of the Kingdom of Kandy. He was the 1st Adigar (Maha Adikaram) from 1811 to 1814 under the reign King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. Following the brutal execution of his entire family by the King, he aided the British in launching an invasion of the Kandy Kingdom and was instrumental in the Kandyan Convention that followed which led to the annexed the Kandy Kingdom to the British Empire.

He was born to a Radala family of courtiers who hailed from the village of Ehelepola, nine miles from Matale and was educated by the Yatawatte Maha Thera (Chief Priest Yatawatte) before joining the Royal court as part of the Royal household.

His first appointment was to the post of Paniwidakara Nilame by the King later he was appointed 2nd Adigar in 1808 succeeding Megastenne on his death. Ehelepola was appointed as Dissava of Sabaragamuva which was held by Megastenne. Sath Korale, which was also held by Megastenne was divided between Molligoda and Ehelepola which was unprecedented and caused much unrest amongst the populaces and resulted in riots in 1811 which had to be put down by Pilimatalawwe Nilame the 1st Adigar and Ehelepola's uncle. It also led to much animosity between Molligoda and Ehelepola. In 1811, Pilimatalawwe was be-headed after he was convicted of high treason for attempting to remove the King and replace him with the young Prince Kannasamy. Ehelepola was thereafter appointed as Maha Adigaram in 1811. The King became increasingly suspicious of the Radala families and his courtiers. His suppression of his repressived enemies were brutal and soon the King became unpopular among his chiefs and people.

Soon the King fell out of favor with the Ehelepola and when a revolt broke out in Sabaragamuva, Ehelepola was sent to suppress it. When Ehelepola failed to return on the Kings summons, he sent Molligoda to capture and return with Ehelepola. Following an engagement with Molligoda's men, Ehelepola fled to the protection of the British forces in the coastal areas of the island.