Ehelepola

Ehelepola Nilame (also referred to as Maha Adikaram Ehelepola) was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Kandy, now part of modern-day Sri Lanka, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He held the high-ranking position of Maha Adikaram (chief minister) under King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.

Ehelepola is largely remembered for his role in instigating rebellion against Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. He felt aggrieved by the king's increasingly tyrannical rule and alleged mistreatment of the Kandyan aristocracy. He instigated a major rebellion in 1814, aimed at deposing the king.

His rebellion ultimately failed to achieve its primary objective of removing Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. However, it significantly weakened the Kandyan Kingdom and created an opportunity for the British to intervene.

The aftermath of Ehelepola's rebellion was marked by brutal consequences for his family. The king, enraged by the rebellion, ordered the execution of Ehelepola's children and the public torture and execution of his wife. This event, known as the Ehelepola Massacre, is widely considered a turning point in the waning support for the Kandyan King and a significant factor contributing to the eventual British conquest of Kandy in 1815.

Ehelepola himself defected to the British, aiding them in their efforts to capture Kandy. He served as an advisor to the British administration after the kingdom fell.

Historical perspectives on Ehelepola are divided. Some view him as a national hero who sought to liberate the kingdom from a cruel tyrant. Others see him as a traitor whose actions facilitated the British takeover and the end of Kandyan independence. He remains a controversial figure in Sri Lankan history.