Kandyan Convention

The Kandyan Convention was an agreement in 1815 between the British and the Chiefs of the Kandyan Kingdom, in Sri Lanka for the deposition of rule King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. The king who was of Telugu ancestry faced powerful opposition from the Sinhalese chieftains who sought to reduce his power. A successful coup was organized by the Sinhala chieftains in which they accepted the British crown as their new king. This ended the line of the Kingdom of Kandy and King Rajasinha was taken as a prisoner. By 2 March 1815 the islands sovereignty was under that of the British Empire. This unique treaty was not signed by the deposed King but by members of his court and other dignitaries of the Kandyan Kingdom.^[1]

Signatories

British

• Robert Brownrigg - Governor of Ceylon
• John D'Oyly - Chief Translator to the Government
• Jas. Surtherland - Deputy Secretary to the Government

Kandyan

• Ehelepola Nilame
• Dullewe - Dissawa of Wellassa and Bintenna
• Ratwatte - Dissawa of Matale
• Galagoda - Dissawa of Nuwara Kalawiya
• Molligoda - 1st (Maha) Adikar & Dissawa of the Sath (Seven) Korles
• Molligoda - Dissawa of Thun (Three) Korles
• Pilima Talawuwe - 2nd Adikar & Dissawa of Sabaragamuwa
• Pilima Talawuwe - Dissawa of Hathra (Four) Korles
• Monarawila - Dissawa of Uva
• Galagama - Dissawa of Tamankaduwa

See also

• Kandyan Treaty of 1638

References

External links

• The Kandyan Convention and British policy
• 1815: Kandyan convention and the role of D’Oyly
• Short History of Ceylon By Humphrey William Codrington
• Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis: Towards a Resolution By R. B. Herath
• The 1815 Kandyan Convention at the Audience Hall
• The signing of the Kandyan Convention
• Kandyan Convention of 1815