Legacy
Francisco (Veera Puran Appu) attended the Wesleyan school in Moratuwa and was a very mischievous boy. After a fight and thrashing the village headman from Lakshapathiya, he fled from Moratuwa in 1825 at the age of 13.[4] He traveled about the country, mostly the hill country – Haldummulla to Badulla and other places.[7] His uncle, W. Marcellenus Franciscu Fernando, was the first Sinhalese proctor who had a flourishing practice at Ratnapura and in 1840 Francisco stayed with him.[7]
It was at this stage of his career that he headed a band of outlaws and initiated a reign of terror against European planters and officials in Uva, much to the delight of His people, His daring exploits against the Europeans in Sri Lanka soon made him a legendary hero in Sri Lanka.[2]
He was now convinced of the necessity of expelling the British from Sri Lanka.[2]
With this end in view, he conferred with the Sangha of Mahiyangana and Muthiyangana who pledged him their support. This was in 1845. He married a highland woman, Bandara Menike of Harispattuwa, in 1847. They had a daughter. Francisco was now called Puran Appu. He broke into House of Magistrate Dawson of Badulla and was imprisoned and then broke prison. He cursed Major Rodgers who brought a false charge against him and Major Rodgers was struck by lightning in Nuwara Eliya.
The Gazette notification by the Colonial Secretary, Sir James Emerson Tennent on January 1, 1847, offered 10 pounds for his apprehension and described him as follows
“Puranappu originally of Morette, lately of Kandy, trade – unknown, caste – fisher, aged 34 years, height 5 ft 71/2 inches, hair – long and black, eyes – light hazel, complexion – light, well looking, make – well made, stout, marks of punishment on the back and 4 vaccination marks.
After three weeks of preparation in the early hours of July 28, 1848, a crowd of eight to ten thousand men under Puranappu's leadership armed with guns, spears and knives set off for Kandy from Dambulla.
The plan was for Puranappu, Gongalagoda Banda and Dingirala to go in three different directions then meet at Katugastota and attack Kandy on Sunday, 30 July.[8]
Puranappu's army first attacked Fort McDowl in Matale. Government buildings and property were ransacked – kachcheries, jails, rest houses and court house records. The coffee stores of Lieutenant General Herbert Maddock, a key adviser to the Government in Kandy was set on fire.[9] Puran Appu was successful in capturing Matale for a while and the people in another demonstration of popular fervor, proclaimed him King of Kandy.[10][11]
His success, however, was short-lived. An ill-trained army, equipped with primitive weapons was no match for the superior arms and organisation of the British Half-way between Matale and Kandy, the Sinhala forces, depleted by desertions and their movements betrayed by traitors, were intercepted by British troops and Puran Appu himself was captured and taken to Kandy. With his capture, the Rebellion fizzled out.
Brought to trial before a Court Martial, he was found guilty of having waged war against H.M. Queen Victoria and condemned to be shot.[12]
On August 8, 1848, on the banks of the Bogambara Wewa, Veera Puran Appu was executed.
