Monument of Sylvester Douglas Wilson

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Monument of Sylvester Douglas Wilson and Uva Wellassa Rebellion of 1817/1818

The Unagolla monument commemorates Sylvester Douglas Wilson, whose 1817 assassination by Butawe Raterala ignited the Uva-Wellassa Rebellion. Ambushed with arrows near Ethanawatta Devale, Wilson’s death triggered a brutal British suppression, marking a pivotal turning point in Sri Lankan resistance against colonial rule during the early 19th century.

The Road to Unagolla

Traveling along the scenic Passara route with its winding mountain ranges, a journey of 32 kilometers [19.88 miles] along the Bibile road brings you to a modest roadside monument near Unagolla Raja Maha Viharaya, on the right. Though unassuming at first glance, this monument marks a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s colonial history—the death of Sylvester Douglas Wilson, Assistant Resident of the Government in Badulla. Wilson’s killing by Butawe Raterala ignited the brutal British suppression of the Uva-Wellassa Rebellion of 1817–1818.

Rising Tensions in the Hill Country

Following the fall of the Kingdom of Kandy to the British in 1815, the Sinhalese population grew increasingly resentful. The former elites, once honored and respected, now found themselves dismissed even by ordinary British soldiers. Tensions worsened when the British appointed a Moorman named Hadjee as the headman of the hill country Moors—Arab Muslim traders who had long settled in Sri Lanka. This appointment stripped the local Dissawes of their authority over the Moor population. (Brohier, 1933, p. 2)

Dissatisfaction grew rapidly among both the nobility and common people. In response, a man named Wilbawe Doresami (Doraiswamy), claimed to be of royal lineage from Wellassa, was brought forward as a pretender to the Kandyan throne. He arrived with eight Buddhist monks and began recruiting support for a rebellion against British rule.

The Search for the Pretender

On September 11, 1817, Wilson, then Assistant Government Agent in Badulla, alerted John D’Oyly, Government Agent of the Kandyan Provinces, that a suspicious “Malabar” man accompanied by eight priests had been sighted in Uva. Determined to investigate, the British tasked the newly appointed headman, Hadjee, with capturing the stranger and his entourage. (C. R. De Silva, 1953, p. 177)

Hadjee advanced to Dankumbera and learned that the group was at Kehelwella, protected by about 200 armed Veddas—a force too strong for his party. Retreating to Wellassa, he encountered 20 men armed with sticks at Pinawella, capturing four and sending them to Badulla. But Hadjee himself was later captured by Buwatte Raterala, beaten, and taken to the man the rebels called “Deviyo” (the divine one), who was based at Bintenne. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 100)

The Expedition to Butawe

Upon hearing of Hadjee’s capture, Wilson immediately set out to rescue him, leading a party of 26 men—including Malays and Kaffirs—under the command of Lieutenant Newman of the 1st Ceylon Regiment. They departed Badulla on the morning of September 14. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 100)

Reaching Butawe, the troops encountered a group of around 200 men armed mostly with bows and arrows. The rebels had positioned themselves strategically near the Raterala’s residence, with clear ground in front and jungle covering their flanks and rear. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 101–102)

Hoping to avoid bloodshed, Wilson approached with an interpreter and two Lascarins to negotiate. The meeting was unproductive, and the group spent the night at Butawe. On the morning of September 16, they attempted a brief 15-minute engagement with the rebels at Kettorawatte, which also failed. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 101–102)

The Ambush at Ethanawatta

The rebels then urged Wilson to leave immediately. Realizing the situation was untenable, he began retreating via Polewatte and Tildinia, arriving around 3 p.m. at Ethanawatta Devale. There, he instructed Lieutenant Newman to proceed, saying he would rejoin shortly. As Newman’s detachment moved about 0.4 kilometers [0.25 miles] ahead, Wilson’s interpreter returned, reporting that Wilson had paused to wash at the nearby river. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 101–102)

While Wilson washed at the stream near Ethanawatta Devalaya, a group of 200–300 rebels emerged from the jungle. About 40 approached him after confirming he was unarmed. Suddenly, they fired a volley of arrows, killing Wilson. His body was carried away, and within days, his severed head was reportedly displayed in a tree near the rebel leader’s residence. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 107)

The Aftermath of the Attack

Newman, hearing the news from two fleeing Lascarins, rushed back with a small force. They found Ethanawatta Devale surrounded by armed rebels who opened fire with arrows, but the British troops quickly dispersed them with gunfire. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 101–102)

The troops searched the area with help from the injured Lascarin—initially thought to be dead—who died the next day from arrow wounds. Despite combing the area until nightfall, Wilson’s body was never recovered. (Vimalananda, 1970, p. 101–102)

In the days that followed, the mysterious stranger was declared king, and a general call was made to rise against British rule. The killing of Wilson signaled the start of open hostilities in what would become the Great Rebellion of 1818.

In 1913, a stone plaque was installed by the government at the roadside to commemorate Sylvester Douglas Wilson, who died in the line of duty. The Ethanawatta Devale today lies in ruins, hidden within elephant-inhabited jungle.

The plaque reads

In memory of
Silvester Douglas Wilson
Assistant Resident and Agent of the British Government.
Prov : of Uva.
Who was killed near this spot at the out-break of the Uva
Rebellion 16th September, 1817.
(Erected by the Ceylon Government, 1913.)

The stone plaque is embedded in a square concrete monument, and a Sinhalese translation was later added to the top of the original inscription. Unfortunately, the whole monument, including the stone plaque, has been painted white recently, making it difficult to read the content.

වෙල්ලස්ස කැරැල්ල
1817 සැතැ. 16 දින හිටිහාමි රටේ රාල
විරුවාගේ ඊ පහරින් මියගිය
සිල්වෙස්ටර් ඩග්ලස් විල්සන්ගේ
ස්මාරකයයි මේ

References

Brohier, R. L. (1933). The Golden Age of Military Adventure in Ceylon: An Account of the UVA Rebellion, 1817-1818, etc. [With plates and a map.]. (1st ed.). Plate Limited.
De Silva, C. R. (1953). Ceylon under the British Occupation, 1795-1833: Its Political and Administrative Development (1st ed., Vols. 1–2). The Colombo Apothecaries.
Lewis , J.P. (1913) List of Inscriptions on Tombstones and Monuments in Ceylon: Of Historical Or Local Interest, with an Obituary of Persons Uncommemorated. Colombo, Sri Lanka: H. C Cottle.
Vimalananda, T. (1970). The Great Rebellion of 1818: The story of the First War of Independence and Betrayal of the Nation (1st ed.). M. D. Gunasena & Co Ltd.

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