Pathirana displeased that national heroes still branded traitors to the Crown

UNP Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana raised issue with the fact that several prominent freedom fighters remained listed as traitors to the Crown through a gazette notification issued in 1818. 

Raising a question about the failure of subsequent governments to reverse the gazette, Pathirana claimed that it was a dismal state of affairs that 19 national heroes who led the freedom struggled in 1818 were labelled traitors even as Sri Lanka was set to celebrate 70 years of independence in 2018. 

According to a Gazette issued on 10 January 1818, Keppettipola Disawe, Godagedara Dissawe, Ketakele Mohottala, Kataragama Maha Bethmarala, Kataragama Kuda Bethmarala, Pallegolle Mohottala, Batakele Mohottala, Delgahagedara Rehenerala, Possarawatte Vidane, Kivule Gedara Mohottala, Yalagomme Mohottala, Udamedure Mohottala, Kohukumbure Raterala, Kohukumbure Walawwe Mohottala, Butawe Raterala, Baginigahawela Raterala, Maha Badullegammane Raterala, Balupitiye Mohottale and Palle Malhaye Gamaethhirala were listed as traitors to the Crown for rebelling against the King during British rule, a few years after the Kandyan Declaration was inked.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs Palitha Thewarapperuma informed Parliament yesterday of the difficulty in reversing the Crown gazette. 

 “Since this matter relates more to other spheres such as law and the judicial system than to the subjects dealt with by my ministry there exist several issues that need to be settled before any decisions can be made. If the legal community makes an explicit recommendation then this subject could be pursued by the Government. Most importantly, there will be issues with their descendants with regards to property,” he said. (AH)