Under A Tropical Sun: "Statue of Keppetipola"

Statue of Keppetipola

Inscription on the base of the public statue located in the town of Keppetipola, Uva - dedicated to the memory of Monerawila Keppetipola.

Text in Sinhala, Tamil and English:

"IT DOES NOT BEHOVE US AS SINHALESE TO SHOOT YOU DOWN WITH YOUR OWN GUNS. GO TAKE THESE GUNS AND RETURN THEM TO YOUR GOVERNER [sic] AND TELL HIM THAT THE PROVINCE OF UVA HAS RISEN IN REBELLION AGAINST THE ENGLISH.

I WOULD RATHER LAY DOWN MY LIFE AS A SINHALESE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE SINHALA COUNTRY THAN LIVE IN SERVILITY UNDER FOREIGNERS."

MONARAWILA KAPPETIPOLA

AT ALUPOTA ON
1st NOVEMBER 1817 A.D.

THIS MEMORIAL TO MONERAWILA KEPPETIPOLA THE GREAT NATIONAL HERO WHO, LEADING THE UVA REBELLION IN 1818, LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE MOTHERLAND, AT THE HANDS OF THE BRITISH IMPERIALISTS WAS ERECTED BY THE FREEDOM LOVING PEOPLE OF UVA LED BY MR. PERCY SAMARAWEERA, MP. FOR WELIMADA AND UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR. WILLIAM GOPALLAWA, THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF SRI LANKA ON 19TH MARCH 1970 A.D.