Perpetual Ferment by Kumari Jayawardena

In Sri Lanka the rebellion of 1818 and heroism of Kappitipola and Madugalle, as well as the 1848 rebellion linked with the names Puran Appu, Gongalegoda Banda and Kadahapola Unnanse, still resonate in popular consciousness. But little has been written about the earlier 18th century revolts of peasants and cinnamon peelers, of the protests against taxes in the early 19th century and the series of conspiracies, revolts and conflicts which expressed the 'perpetual ferment' of the years preceding the 1848 rebellion. This book unravels these events, and discusses the multi-class, multi-caste bloc of chiefs, bhikkhus, peasants, vaddas and pretenders to the throne that challenged the authorities.