The armies of Kotte did not bother to survey the surroundings of Sitawaka. The chief commander, Veediya Bandara thought that King Mayadunne and his army had fled, in fear. So he too rested in comfort. In their camp, there were no people who were armed. They had all kept their weapons aside. It was midnight. All of a sudden, there was a flow of soldiers, from all sides. They began to attack.