31st August 1997

History of the Ceylon Police

The Kandy war and the reprisals

All progress was greatly retarded by the wasteful war into which North entered with the Kandyan King. The outcome of this was an invasion and occupation of Kandy for a brief period and a quick return to base leaving behind many captives and many dead, more by disease than by the wounds of war.

Captain Barbut made a successful invasion of Kandy and returned to Colombo and died after a brief illness. In the short period of occupation which followed, Major Davie became the Commandant of Kandy. He had to face unbelievable difficulties. First the Malays tempted by various inducements began to desert. But Adjutant Nouradin Goa continued in his loyalty and as a mark of appreciation and also to keep him in good humour a specially made Kris was sent to him. "lt is a plain one as befits a soldier, but it is the first which was made in London for the service of the King, I am desirous that it should be worn by one who has done so much honour to his nation and his profession." He remained loyal and paid with his life. The desertion of the Malays could not be stemmed even inspite of the "liberal supplies of wholesome food and opium which had been sent thither from Colombo."

The problem with the Malays was found elsewhere. At Hambantota Ensign Pendergrast could not place any reliance on them. "I have not the smallest doubt that every pariah of them would only be glad of an opportunity to join them", added Pendergrast. North in disgust offered them to Lords Clive and Wellesley. "I have offered them to Lord Clive and Lord Wellesley as they may be still of use on the continent, at a distance from their revolted brethren". He then took steps to recruit Caffres.

The situation in Kandy became very serious and the British had to withdraw speedily. Davie found himself trapped in Kandy with a small and ineffective force. Muttusamy, the Pretender was abjectly handed over for immediate execution. His men were slaughtered, including those who were in hospital. Few escaped including the Medical Sub-Assistant John Henderick Vansanden. Davie was left to languish in captivity.

The Kandyans now hit back strongly, invading many districts and completely over-running some. In August (1803) they invaded Batticaloa and burnt houses and carried away property. By January 1804 tranquillity was restored. But in April the Veddahs entered Eravur, killed the Headman and plundered the country. Captain Johnstone drove them away but they came back accompanied by the Kandyans and removed a large number of cattle. In August some Kandyans came to Samanturai with cattle laden with kurrakan. These were seized and the Kandyans retaliated with an invasion, in the course of which houses were burnt to the ground, people were seized, pinioned and removed to the interior. Captain Johnstone entered Kandyan territory and brought the captives back. The Carieappa (Headmen) went over to the Kandyans.

Disturbed state

The Vanni was in a disturbed state. Pandaran Vanniyan who, for creating trouble was driven out of the Vanni by Garrow in 1798 and later imprisoned at Mullaitivu had escaped and was out in the Vanni. He had assumed a rank and style he was not entitled to and was "being carried about in a palankeen and ordering and judging the people." He had besides started to plunder the villages and carry away women. During this war he had the support of the Sinhalese Dissawe of Nuwara Kalawiya. With this combined strength on 25 August he made an attack on the Government House at Mullaitivu and laid siege to the Fort. Captain Drieberg with his invalid Malays slipped out of the Fort in boats and reached Jaffna safely. A concerted attack was made on the Vanni. Captain Madge with a detachment of the 19th Regiment came from Trincomalee and captured Kumarasinghe Mudaliyar of Mullaitivu and several others and hanged them at Vadduva Kattu, at a place afterwards called Tukkumarattadi - (hanging place tree). Another detachment of the 19th Regiment under Lieutenant John Jewell seized a large number of cattle. And Captain Drieberg coming from Mannar surprised Pandaran’s forces at Kachchilamadu on 31 October, killed a great many of them, took 46 prisoners and destroyed the places where Pandaran’s possessions were hidden. The rebels dispersed and Pandaran was not heard of since then. Captain Drieberg was rewarded with a gift of Pandaran’s tank called Pandarakulam. A force of Malays were stationed in the Vanni to maintain law and order.

At Chilaw on the 24 August 1804 Lieutenant Mohamed Ally Ibrahim with a small detachment of native infantry routed a "numerous army of Candians" led by the Adigar Migastenne. For this he was awarded a sword, granted an allowance for a horse and presented with a large sum of money as a token of appreciation.

Captain Hankey drove out the Kandyans from Hewagam Korale and Tamby Mohandiram was awarded a gold medal for bravery and eminent services with the detachment at Hewagam Korale. Besides soon after he was elevated to the rank of a Mudaliyar. Lieutenant Mercer was thanked for his intrepidity in the defence of Hanwella. Captain Pollock of the 55th Regiment was recognised for routing the Grand Army of the Kandyans led by the King himself. Their artillery and even the Royal Standard were captured. Many of the Malays serving with the King were won back.

The trouble in the Mahagam Pattu was of a more serious nature. The Kandyans took over the entire Matara District. Captain Honner had to be replaced. Captain Beaver of the 19th Regiment, however, recaptured this district and subdued its inhabitants.

The Declaration of Martial Law

The movement of detachments and their conflicts caused much distress and unrest in the country. To safeguard the population as "evil disposed and disorderly persons have taken advantage of the present emergency to commit outrages and offences", North declared Martial Law throughout the British Possessions, excluding the Fort of Colombo. A Militia was formed in Colombo. All persons employed in the Civil Service of the Government, all Burghers and unregistered Europeans except the Military servants of the former Dutch Government were eligible to serve and were required to register with the Town Major. The Portuguese and Dutch residents of Kalutara volunteered to serve in Kalutara.

Desertion and Confiscation of Property

Several crossed the border and went to join the Kandyan King. These included 40 headmen from Siyane Korale, 4 headmen from Hewagam Korale, 13 headmen from Alut Kuru Korale, 10 from Hapitigam Korale, 18 from Galle, 27 from Matara, 6 from Mahagam Pattu, 29 from Batticaloa, 9 from Trincomalee, 10 from the Vanni and 24 from Chilaw. Besides these headmen there were many others who went over to the Kandyan King. All these were noticed to return by the Ist September and hand themselves over to the Magistrates or Civil Officers. All those who failed to return by this date became automatically guilty of Treason and had their property confiscated.

What happened to Katuwellegedera Unnanse who was detained by the Fiscal on a charge of High Treason, which he was prepared to admit, is unfortunately not known.

But there were others who were rewarded for their loyalty and their deeds. One such was Tamby Aratchi, Don Adrian Wijesinghe. In the Sinhalese Rebellion of 1798 he served the British loyally and well and was given the Ambatale Resthouse site. He did still better as Tamby Mohandiram in the Kandyan War and was given a gold medal for bravery and elevated to the rank of Mudaliyar. An idea of what he did could be surmised from the glowing certificate given by Hay Macdowal, a portion of it read... I never knew a native of lndia who possessed so great a share of personal courage and deep penetration and so much prudence and discernment. I recommend his merits particularly to the notice of Major General Wemyss who will find his services of the utmost importance when the Army takes the field. It may be proper to add that His Excellency the Governor fully sensible of his deserts has conferred upon Don Adrian the dignity of A Modliar and attached him to the Army - so that he belongs to Headquarters - and has entrusted him immediately under Captain Hankey the Department of the Guides and Spies. In addition he was given the Madampe lands of Seneviratne Mudaliyar who was referred to as the "runaway Mudliyar of Madampe."

Reprisals

In January 1804 North ordered a blockade to prevent trade and other activities taking place between His Majesty’s subjects and the Kandyans. Much trade took place between them based on a system of barter. "It was customary for the borderers in the Candian country to bring betel leaf and arecanut for purpose of barter." However the main items which formed the basis of this system of barter were Rice and Salt. The people of the maritime areas required rice bad]y and for the Kandyans salt was a pressing necessity. The Kandyans offered favourable terms, giving a measure of rice valued at 3 fanams for two measures of salt valued at a fanam. "When for two measures of salt which at present cost a fanam they obtain from the Kandyans a measure of rice which is sold for 3 fanams". With such an advantage accruing to the people of the maritime areas, to check this trade became well nigh impossible. The Agents of Revenue did their utmost and the Peons sent by them made many detections in the Chilaw area, where the trade was prevalent, but to stop this was not so easy. The next best step was then taken. The Agent of Revenue in Chilaw was ordered to collect and send all the salt in the area to Colombo in whatever conveyance available.

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