Before His last Breath.

Monarawila Keppetipola Disave is a National Hero who fought against British rulers to obtain the independence. He was the hero who led the 1818 Uva rebellion. On November 26 in the same year, he was sentenced to death.

On November 26th morning, as requested by Keppetipola and Madugalla, they were taken to the temple of the tooth relic. He explained how he had been doing the meritorious tasks kneeling down in front of the Buddhist monk in the room where the relic casket had kept safely. At the end of the conversation between the nilame and the monk, he offered his shawl though it was impure and torn which was tied around his waist to the temple. He also uttered that he had no any other valuable asset to offer him. 

Then the two prisoners were taken near the Bogambara weva or tank where they were supposed to kill. There he did religious observances. He tied his long hair as a knot on the top of his head and took out a small book which contains some Dhamma verses. He recited those verses and handed over the book to a local officer to gift it to Mr.Sawyers. He thought to gift this book to Mr.Sawyers because he worked with him while he was on duty in Badulla. To pay him gratitude for his kindness and brotherhood, he gifted it. 

Finally, Nilame bent to receive the sword stroke  while reciting  few pali verses about supreme and great qualities of Lord Buddha. At that moment, the executioner hit the stroke but as requested by Keppetipola disave he couldn't behead him at once. He released his last breath to the air on the second stroke. According to the Kandyan customs, his scull was kept on his chest. 

📷 courtesy- serendib.btoptions.lk