Monarawila Keppetipola

Rajapaksa Wickramasekera Mudiyanselage Monarawila Keppetipola, widely known as Keppetipola Disawe was a high ranking official under the rule of King Sri Wikrama Rajasinghe and later under the British Administration in 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 Govt. The rebellion was defeated by the British, and Keppetipola Disawe was found guilty of high treason and was beheaded on November 26, 1818 at the Bogambara execution grounds in Kandy, by the British. Keppetipola Disawe is well known for the exceptional courage that he showed at the moment of his execution.

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