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Weerahannadige Francisco Fernando, colloquially known by his nickname Puran Appu (Sinhala පුරන් අප්පු) is one of the notable figures of Sri Lanka's post-Kandyan history. Regarded colloquially as a national hero, his staunch resistance against British rule made him a symbol of independence and patriotism within many Sri Lankans. He was born on 7 November 1812 and raised in the coastal town of Moratuwa. He left Moratuwa with his family at the age of 13 in the aftermath of a village dispute and stayed in Ratnapura with his uncle, who was the first Sinhalese proctor, eventually settling in Uva Province. In early 1847, he met and married Bandara Menike, the daughter of Gunnepana Arachchi in Kandy.

Despite being an instrumental leader in leading the Matale Rebellion in 1848, the subsequent brutal suppression of the uprising by the British led to his capture along with Gongalegoda Banda and Ven. Kudapola Thera. He was executed by a firing squad on August 8, 1848, with his body being buried in Matale.

Legacy

Puran Appu lived in Sri Lanka during the period of British colonial rule. Like many other Sri Lankans, Appu gradually grew opposed towards the British. On the 28th of July 1848, Puran Appu initiated a decisive assault on Matale, leading to the city's successful capture, despite the failures of other rebel leaders who besieging Kurunegala and Wariyapola.

In a letter written by Governor George Byng, 7th Viscount Torrington towards Earl Grey, the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in London dating to October 9, 1849, stated:

“I remind you of the last words of Puranappu. He held up his hands and said if there had been half a dozen such men as me to lead, there would not be a white man living in the Kandyan Province. This is true. If there had been such leaders, without doubt for a time we should have lost the country.”

Role in the Matale Rebellion

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. He traveled about the country, mostly the hill country – Haldummulla to Badulla and other places. 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.

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.

He was now convinced of the necessity of expelling the British from Sri Lanka.

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.

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. Puran Appu was successful in capturing Matale for a while and the people in another demonstration of popular fervor, proclaimed him King of Kandy.

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.

On August 8, 1848, on the banks of the Bogambara Wewa, Veera Puran Appu was executed.

Legacy

Weera Puran Appu Vidyalaya, a school in Moratuwa is named after him. A new frog species found from Adam's Peak, was named Pseudophilautus puranappu, by the researchers for his great dedication to protect the country from foreign invasions. A biographical film of Puran Appu was made on 1978, where Ravindra Randeniya acted as Puran Appu.

See also

• Matale Rebellion
• Gongalegoda Banda

References

1. ^ Perpetual ferment : popular revolts in Sri Lanka in the 18th and 19th centuries, Kumari Jayawardena p.129 (SSA)
2. ^ "WWW Virtual Library: Sri Lanka: Veera Puran Appu". www.lankalibrary.com.
3. ^ "'Dedication, sacrifice of Veera Puran Appu made British Govt. more favourable to the public'". Daily News. 11 August 2003. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013.
4. ^ Fernando, Tyronne. "Veera Puran Appu - courageous son of Lanka". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
5. Matale Rebellion
6. "Mohamed Azhar: VEERA PURAN APPU". August 13, 2006.
7. ^ "List.lk - Business and collaboration platform for your business". www.list.lk.
8. Kirthiratne, Mahesh (6 July 2011). "Veera Puran Appu; wasn't he a hero?". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
9. Britain's Empire: Resistance, Repression and Revolt By Richard Gott
10. The De Soysa Charitaya, by C. Don Bastian and V. S. M. De Mel, p. 71 (University of California) ASIN B00H1CYGL4
11. "Heroes in the struggle for Independence". www.sundaytimes.lk.
12. "Books by Category - Heroes". Sumitha Books. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019.
13. "Museums". Intravels Holiday (Pvt) Ltd. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016.
14. Wickramasinghe, L.J. Mendis; Bandara, Imesh Nuwan; Vidanapathirana, Dulan Ranga; Tennakoon, Kamani H.; Samarakoon, Sameera R.; Wickramasinghe, Nethu (26 April 2015). "Pseudophilautus dilmah, a new species of shrub frog (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from a threatened habitat Loolkandura in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (5): 7089–7110. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3501.7089-110.
15. "Veera Puran Appu - වීර පුරන් අප්පු - Sinhala Cinema Database". www.films.lk.

External links

• Veera Puran Appu: stood up against the might of British Empire
• Tyrrone F, not worth even a hair of illustrious Weera Puran Appu
• 155th Veera Puran Appu Commemoration Ceremony :'Dedication, sacrifice of Veera Puran Appu made British Govt. more favourable to the public'
• Veera Puran Appu - courageous son of Lanka
• Gongalegoda Banda and Puran Appu
• Veera Puran Appu: stood up against the might of British Empire, The Daily News
• Dedication, sacrifice of Veera Puran Appu made British Govt. more favourable to the public, The Daily News
• Veera Puran Appu - courageous son of Lanka
• Tyrrone F, not worth even a hair of illustrious Weera Puran Appu

• 1812 births
• Sri Lankan independence movement
• National Heroes of Sri Lanka
• People executed by the United Kingdom by firing squad
• Executed Sri Lankan people
• People executed by British Ceylon
• Prisoners and detainees of British Ceylon
• Sinhalese people
• 1848 deaths
• People from Moratuwa
• Sri Lankan military leaders
• People of the Kingdom of Kandy
• People executed by Sri Lanka by firing squad