Some Sri Lankan scholars place him in the context of regional insurgencies of against British Colonial rule rather than a manifestation of local lawlessness or economic justice.

Saradiel briefly took to thievery, distributing his stolen items amongst the poor villagers.

When his father refused to shelter him, he returned to the mountain of Utuwankande, which he had made his hideout for numerous raids.

Saradiel was taken to court in Hultsdorf, Colombo to stand trial for murder, yet he managed to escape from Mahara Prison.

Returning to Utuwankande hill in Mawanella he formed a gang of robbers, made raids on carriages and coaches on the highway to Kandy from Colombo.

Resulting in his exploits becoming famous throughout the island and the British administrators increasing the police units in the area.

A folk lore to the effect that a letter from the Queen Victoria, which accidentally read: 'kill him, not let him go', when it was supposed to be: 'kill him not, let him go', was misinterpreted and he was sentenced to death; is fake.

Due to this he was referred to as the "Robin Hood of Sri Lanka", most of his raids were targeting British and their native supporters, who had gained wealth as the lower and medium levels of the colonial administration, he gained popularity among the poor villagers who were opposed to the British.