Keppetipola Disawe

Rajapaksa Wickramasekera Mudiyanselage Bandaranayake Monaravila Keppetipola
Keppetipola Disawa.
Born	Udugoda, Udasiya Pattuwa, Matale, Sri Lanka
Died	25 November 1818 Kandy, Sri Lanka
Cause of death	Executed by beheading
Resting place	Sri Lanka
Residence	Kandy, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lanka
Other names	Monarawila Keppetipola, Keppetipola Disawe
Occupation	Disawe of Matale & Disawe of Uva
Known for	Leading the Uva Rebellion of 1818
Home town	Matale
Spouse(s)	Delwala Ethanahamy (Rathnapura)
Children	2 sons
Parent(s)	Golahela Disawe (Father),Monaravila Kumarihamy (Mother)
Relatives	Ehelepola Kumarihamy (Younger sister)

Rajapaksa Wickramasekera Mudiyanselage Bandaranayake Monarawila Keppetipola (Sinhala:රාජපක්ෂ වික්‍රමසේකර මුදියන්සේලාගේ බණ්ඩාරනායක මොනරවිල කැප්පැටිපොල), more widely known as Keppetipola Disawe was a Disawe, a high-ranking official under the rule of King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe and later under the British Administration in Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon). He was a prominent leader of the Uva rebellion of 1818 after he joined the rebels whom he was sent to suppress by the British. The rebellion was defeated by the British, and Keppetipola Disawe along with several other leaders of the rebellion were found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death. He is well known for the exceptional courage that he showed at the moment of his execution, and is now a national hero of Sri Lanka.

Keppetipola was born to an Radala family in Monarawila of the Matale area. Keppetipola Disawe’s father Golahela Disawe was the Diyawadana Nilame of Temple of the Tooth and Disawe Of Tamankaduwa during the reign of King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe. After his death, Keppetipola acquired his position.

Keppetipola Disawe was one of the Sinhala leaders who signed the ‘’Udarata Treaty’’ at Kandy on 2 March 1815, bringing the whole island under the British rule. Keppetipola was one of the three leaders who signed the treaty in Sinhalese. This is noted by some as a sign that even though Keppetipola signed this treaty, he was not willing to bring his country under the British rule.

Keppetipola served under the British rule as a Disawe, in charge of the Uva Province. By 1817 the rebellions were getting uncontrollable and attempts at negotiations also failed. As advised by the British Resident in Kandy John D’Oyly, Governor Robert Brownrigg sent Keppetipola with 500 men to suppress the rebellion. However, upon meeting the rebels Keppetipola joined them as their leader at their request. His men are also said to have joined with him, but Keppetipola returned his arms and ammunition to the British governor saying that he did not wish to destroy them with their own weapons. Keppetipola continued to lead the rebellion with great success until it was ended with the disbanding of the rebels.