Trial and Exile
On 21 September 1848, Gongalegoda Banda was arrested by the Malay soldiers at Elkaduwa and was brought to Kandy. The trial of Gongalegoda Banda commenced on 27 November at the Supreme Court sessions in Kandy. He was charged of high treason for claiming he himself as the King of Kandy, declaring as a descendent of the Kandy Kings, ongoing and waging war against the British. He bravely declared that he was guilty of all the above charges. The Judgement of the Supreme Court was that he to be hanged on 1 January 1849. However, on an appeal made by Gongalegoda Banda to the Governor a proclamation was issued on 29 December 1848 to amend the death sentence to flogging 100 times and exiled.
On 1 January 1849, Gongalegoda Banda was flogged 100 times in Kandy before a large gathering of people and sent in to exile in Malacca (now Malaysia). Governor Lord Torrington writing a dispatch to the Secretary of State informed that deportation for life was more severe than death penalty. By deporting Gongalegoda Banda, Governor instilled a permanent fear among the inhabitants for future rebellion against the British rule. Gongalegoda Banda who was exiled to Malacca arrived there on 3 May 1849. He died on 1 December 1849 in Malacca, which was reported by Tikiri Banda Dunuwila who was also exiled there.
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