Page 336 - Proceedings book

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husband was in a mission with purpose of saving the country from the wicked and

unfair king. The following were her final words,
May the blessing of the gods be with my lord and husba.is, Ehelepola Adikar.

May the country pass before long from the wicked cruel and worthless King
who now rules over it to another government. (Manathunga, 2005, p.40)

3.1.3 The inhuman massacre

The unfortunate death of Ehelepola Kumārihāmi and her three children had been
marked as a black dot in the Sri Lankan history. The royal punishment was inhuman

where people from Kandy were not able to agree with the royal order. Peiris (2002)
mentioned that this inhuman massacre had been taken place at a place called, ‘Deva

sanhinda’ exactly in between Natha Devalaya and the Vishnu devalaya. The day of
this massacre had transformed the country into a funeral house. People did not take

food, instead of staying at home while lamenting for months. As Manathunag (2005)

explained the four children of Ehelepola Adikar had their heads cut off. The youngest
child had been torn off her mother’s breast and cut the head. The heads were put into

the mortar and the mother was forced to pound the heads of own children. Ehelepola

Kumārihāmi and the other women were led to the brink of large Bogambara tank. The
hands and the feet were being bound, and the stones were tied around the neck of each.

They were thrown into the lake inhumanly. The punishment that which had been
given by the king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was proceeded based on his personal

grudge. The above fact was proven correct, as Peiris (2002) mentioned that the law
that which was read by Diyawadana Nilame as follows,

In the case of those who have committed treason against the King the

remaining members of their family shall be arrested and the males beheaded,
and the females put to death by drowning: such is the law. (p.181)

The inhuman massacre had been marked in the minds of the people. The poetry,
paintings and other forms of art works had been emerged based on the murder. The

following verses have been referred from such poetry collection, Ehelepola Hataneh

hewath Daru keteweema which was written by H.G Andhris De Silva. The poet
conveyed the mother’s sad experience on pounding own children through own hand.

Through relating the poet’s imagination, he further added the emotional response of
Ehelepola Adikar on death of his wife and the children. The anger that he had taken

on king. The following verses of the poem has showcased such,

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