Gongalegoda Banda (died 1849) was the leader of the Matale rebellion of 1848 against British rule, and was proclaimed king by his followers.
The rebellion was triggered by a set of new taxes imposed in 1848 — on guns, dogs, shops and carts — together with an ordinance requiring six days' unpaid labour a year or a cash payment in lieu, at a time of economic hardship. Unlike the Uva rising three decades earlier, this was a revolt with a substantially peasant character rather than one led by the old Kandyan nobility.
It was suppressed within weeks under martial law. Gongalegoda Banda was captured, flogged publicly, and transported to Malacca, where he died. The severity of the response and the questionable legality of the martial law declaration led to a parliamentary inquiry in London and contributed to the recall of Governor Torrington.