[4] Keppetipola Disawe was one of the Sinhalese leaders who signed the ‘’Udarata Treaty’’ at Kandy on 2 March 1815, bringing the whole island under the British rule.

As advised by the British Resident in Kandy John D’Oyly, Governor Robert Brownrigg sent Keppetipola with 500 men to suppress the rebellion.

Martial Law was declared in Kandy and the surrounding provinces and two army divisions were sent to Uva immediately after the news reached the Governor that Keppetipola has joined the rebels.

Under this new king, Keppetipola was appointed as the Maha Adhikaram (Chief Minister) and the rebels were urged to fight against British colonial rule in Ceylon.

[citation needed] Keppetipola led a guerrilla war against the British colonial forces, knowing that the rebels were outnumbered and lesser in firepower.

As a result of this and because of the hardships the civilian population of Uva had to face, the rebels were disbanded and Keppetipola fled to the Nuwara Kalawiya area in Anuradhapura.

On 28 October 1818, Keppetipola along with Pilimathalawe, another rebel leader were captured by Captain O’Neil of the British army, with the assistance of Native Lieutenant Cader-Boyet of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment.

Keppetipola tied up his hair over his head to avoid it falling onto his neck and bent to receive the sword stroke, uttering the supreme and great qualities of the Buddha.