PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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the Hindu population of Ceylon strongly desire the restriction of the sale of opium and bhang, and the suppression of the existing licensed shops in Colombo and throughout the Island." The words "Hindu population," in the resolution, ladies and gentlemen, I take to be almost identical with the words "Tamil population," for there are few Hindus in the Island who are not Tamils As a Tamil who was born
and who has lived in the most populous of Tamil districts, as one acquainted with almost every rank and condition of Tamil society, as one possessing an intimate knowledge of the tastes, habits, and modes of thinking of the members of our race in Ceylon, I venture to think that the resolution which I have the honour to propose to night is one which will commend itself to the vast majority of them as being in perfect harmony with their feelings. The habit of using opium is one which I should admit very rare among Tamils, except perhaps to a very limited extent in the chief townS. But it is a habit which, like most other evil habits, is contagious. It may break out suddenly and spread far and wide like a contagion. If it does spread, it may prove to be a grave source of danger to society at no distant future. There are reasons to fear that the habit of using opium is gaining ground. The sooner, therefore, we take precautions to stamp out the monster, the better will it be for society. That our fears are not unfounded may be proved from the course of legislation in Ceylon, for some years past. The tendency of legislation in recent times, I should say, was to encourage the sale of opium. Some years ago, the system which was in vogue in Ceylon was to issue a limited number of yearly licenses to sell opium in each town or district whenever there was any application for it. He who paid a fee of Rs. 250 received a license to sell opium wholesale for a year within a certain district or town, and whoever paid Rs. 100 had a license to sell opium in retail for a year and within the same limits. But subsequently, however, the municipality of Colombo was impowered by law to sell by public auction to the highest bidder the opium licenses which it issued. This proceeding proved a grand success from a revenue point of view, as will be seen from the fact that only last year the municipality of Colombo realised the enormous sum of Rs. 26,000, nearly 26 or 30 times the original value of the licenses. Those who bought the licenses from the Colombo municipality found that it would be a paying business to themselves and a source of increased revenue to Government if the same law as prevails within the Colombo municipality were introduced throughout the Island. I have good grounds to believe that they petitioned the Government to change the law accordingly. The last Ordinance on the subject, which was passed only a few weeks ago, empowering certain other municipalities besides Colombo to sell their opium licenses by public auction to the highest bidder, is a step in that direction. It must be evident to you, ladies and gentlemen, that powerful capitalists will now compete with one another to buy up all the opium licenses available in the Island, in order to secure to themselves what will practically become a monopoly. The revenue derived by Government will, of course, rise by leaps and bounds. But the capitalists who risk their money in such a speculation are shrewd men; they are men who spend largely in the hope of making a fortune by it, and they would naturally exert all the influence which their wealth can give to extend the sale of opium, and to bring it within the reach of every man and woman and child in the Island. That, ladies and gentlemen, is not a consummation to be devoutly wished for by those who have the interest of the people of Ceylon at heart. For you know how demoralising will the effects be on the future generation of the Ceylonese if opium-eating or smoking becomes a general habit It is scarcely necessary for me to expatiate on the evil results of the use of opium, as the previous speakers have done it most effectively. Prevention, as we all know, is better than oure. I am bound to say that we owe a debt of gratitude to those, especially the two ladies, the prime movers of this cause, who, seeing the danger ahead, have sounded a timely note of warning. I have, therefore, much pleasure in moving the resolution which stands in my name. (Applause).
Barrister N. Theyagaraja seconded the resolution. He said that, after the able and interesting remarks of the mover, there was no necessity for him to say much. According to the Hindu religion, spirituous drinks and these dangerous drugs are all prohibited. So there was no excuse at all for the Hindu Tamils contracting the habit of using opium and bhang. He was sorry to say that many Tamils, and even youths, smoked tobacco, and he was afraid that, if the use of opium and bhang were contracted by them, there would be great danger to the community. With reference to the sale of opium and bhang, as most of them were agreed, there was no necessity for him to detain them at that late hour. (Applause).
The resolution, like the others, was unanimously carried.
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FIFTH RESOLUTION.
Mr. M. I. Mohammadu Ally, J.P., said that he had great pleasure in moving: That the Muhammadan population of Ceylon strongly desire the restriction of the "sale of opium and bhang, and the suppression of the existing licensed shops in "Colombo and throughout the Island."
Mr. A. T. Samsedeen seconded the resolution. In doing so, he said, at that late hour, he was not going to speak much. The Muhammadan religion prohibits the use of these drugs as well as intoxicating drinks, that the people in. Ceylon did not use these drugs years ago, but latterly the Malays had introduced the use of these drugs, and large numbers of people were now addicted to their use. He then said that the sale of these drugs should be restricted to prevent misery to the people. He heartily seconded the
resolution. (Applause.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
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SIXTH RESOLUTION.
The Rev. Mr. F. D. Waldock, B.M.S., then moved the following resolution: "That "the Christian population of Ceylon strongly desire the restriction of the sale of opium and bhang and the suppression of the existing licensed shops in Colombo and "throughout the Island." In doing so, he said he was very glad to move that resolution, but he thought they should ask much more than the restriction of the sale. All the communities were against the sale of opium and bhang. It was against the Buddhist religion, as was said by the High Priest; it was against the Hindu religion; and all the Christian communities were against it, because it was opposed to the social and moral improvement of the people, and when the whole population was against it, why should the Government keep it up? A Christian Government like our English should stop it at once, and not allow it to bring on desolation to the country, and ruin the people who have shown their loyalty to the Crown. What was the Government? he asked. Government, he said, was the opinion of the public and not the opinion of a few.
And as the opinion of a large number of the different communities was against the sale of those poisons, the Government was bound to stop it. Why should these poisons be treated in a different manner from the other poisons. If anyone wanted prussic acid or any other poison he has to go to a medical man and get it, and why should not these poisons also be under the same restrictions! (Applause.)
This resolution was seconded by Major Jaya Vera, of the Salvation Army, who said: As a Christian worker amongst the masses of this Island, I sincerely rejoice that the heart of Ceylon has been moved on hearing to what an extent the consumption of opium and bhang-taking prevails here. We should not forget that the present feeling on the subject is due to the noble and self-sacrificing efforts of two lady Christian workers, who not only surprised the inhabitants of Ceylon by stating that this vice existed, but were able, by visiting the opium dens and shops, personally to obtain and give facts. When these revelations were published they naturally created a great stir and, though many discredited the statements, it opened the eyes of those who desire the good of the people of this Island, and gave them a foundation to work upon. Personally, I investigated this matter, and had an opportunity of seeing the evils as they existed in the opium dens, and was fully convinced that, though the bad effects were only slightly visible at present, yet certainly the evil would spread as a contagious disease until every town and village was affected and thousands of people turned into slaves of opium and bhang. Reference has been made in this meeting to the prevalence of opium-taking in the towns, but, during the past week, I have had an opportunity of visiting several of the villages in the interior, and find even there the habit of taking this poisonous drug is being formed, and slowly, yet surely, the evil is growing, and is likely to spread rapidly. Therefore, seeing the evil exists, and the people of Ceylon look to the Christians to take energetic steps for the suppression of this traffic, it gives me great pleasure to second this resolution, which desires not only the suppression of this terrible vice, but the closing of the existing opium shops in Colombo and throughout the Island.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
SEVENTH RESOLUTION.
Advocate J. Grenier then moved the next resolution. In doing so, Mr. Granier id: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,-The resolution which has been put into my hands contains the essence of all the proceedings already had at this meeting. (Mr. Grenier here read the resolution and proceeded.) You are now called upon to
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