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27
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
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several minor headmen are directly concerned, and there is good reason to suspect all headmen of complicity. Mosques were destroyed at Teldeniya, Pallekelle Vidiya, Hurikaduwe Madige, Wattegama, Huluganga, and Kandekettiya.
4. The ringleaders besides headmen include schoolmasters, estate tea-makers, and low-country traders. In Teldeniya a Sinhalese professing to be a Christian is among the ringleaders the only instance I have so far come across. Meetings (under the disguise of school prize-givings and temperance meetings) were held in several centres during May, and were attended by P. B. Ratnaike, who is probably the prime mover of the disturbances. There is reason to believe that Buddhist priests A Buddhist are mixed up in these riots, and in some cases instigated the mobs. priest accompanied Ratnaike to an alleged temperance meeting at Huluganga on 23rd May; the mob at Hurikaduwa Madige went to the Pansala there before looting; and some of the notary's meetings in Uda Dumbara were held in temples. Priests have given evidence and been named as witnesses for the defence in court martial Outside every Court where riot cases are being heard it is a common thing to see a little group of priests.
cases.
5. There is no evidence of personal injury to Moors or of outrage of any kind in my district (Pata Dumbara and Uda Dumbara).
6. False rumours were spread, the favourite being (i) that Government had given permission to the Sinhalese to drive out the Moors, and (ii) that a large force of Moors was coming to attack the local temple, and tom-toms were beaten, In several instances on the order of headmen, to collect the ignorant villagers. seditious expressions, such as "the British rule ended on the 27th; Buddhism is reviving; the Mohammedans must be driven out," have been used to excite the mob.
7. As regards assessment of damages, the figures given by Moormen themselves (including as they do in almost every case items such as cash and jewellery) are as fanciful as the Sinhalese headmen's taxation is absurdly small.
I personally take no notice of the latter, and after inspection of the boutique assess the damages at what seems a reasonable sum. in most cases about one-half of what is claimed. As an instance of the Moors' exaggeration I may state that one Moorman put down an almirah at Rs.50; on inspection I found the only damage it had sustained was a broken lock.
8. In conclusion I would suggest, for the consideration of Government, the advisability of exercising a strict censorship over the vernacular press in future, and of employing secret and trusted agents to watch and report on the conduct of the Buddhist priests, who have abundant opportunities for preaching sedition in the secrecy of their pansalas and temples.
9. A copy of this report has been sent to the Honourable the Government Agent. Central Province.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
Enclosure 4 in No. 31.
I am, &c.,
G. S. WODEMAN,
Special Commissioner.
Kandy, 12th July, 1915.
SIR.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential letter of the 28th ultimo, forwarding, for my information and guidance, a copy of a memo- randum by the Honourable Mr. J. G. Fraser, C.M.G., on the subject of the " recovery of compensation for damages due to the Moors in the Colombo district in May-June, 1915," and inquiring what steps have been taken by me to date to recover damages and costs from the villagers, and whether I had made any recoveries in cash or had obtained bonds of indemnity.
2. In reply I have to state that so far I have been engaged on assessment work in connexion with the recent disturbances in the following areas:— Kandy District-Pata Hewaheta, Uda Palata.
Matale District.
3. As regards Pata Hewaheta, disturbances occurred at the following
centres :-
(1) Ampitiya Udagama.
Ampitiya Pallegama.
(8) Ketawala.
(4) Eurudeniya.
(5) Tenekumbura.
(6) Butawatte.
The damages in the villages (1), (2), (3), and (6) were slight in extent, the outbreaks having been insignificant in character. In (4) the damage was much more extensive. In (5) some slight damage was done to the steps and fittings of the mosque, and I am at present in communication with the District Engineer, Kandy, regarding the extent of the damage done, which probably does not amount to more than Rs.150.
I have fixed the following sums as indemnities:-
Ampitiya Udagama
Ketawala
Ampitiya Pallegama
Eurudeniya
Butawatte
Rs. 150
paid in full.
450
50
3,000 300
paid in full. paid in full. Rs.750 paid.
paid in full.
The balance, Rs.2,250, which is due in the case of Eurudeniya, is to be paid in three quarterly instalments of Rs.750 each, and has been secured by bonds to the extent of over Rs.4,000.
4. In the case of Uda Palata, disturbances occurred at :-
Gampola. Pussellawa.
(9) Retapade.
(10) Pupuressa.
(11) Kalugomuwa.
(12) Hindagalla.
5. In the case of (7), Gampola, I have fixed the amount to be recovered at Rs.120,000. This amount the inhabitants of the town and its limits have flatly refused to pay, intimating that they prefer to wait for the later punitive assess-
ment tax.
6. As regards (8), Pussellawa, and (9), Retapada, I have fixed an indemnity of Rs.8,700 to be paid by the inhabitants of Pussellawa, Atabage Udagama, and Atabage Pallegama wasam in the following proportions:-
Rs.500 paid.
Pussellawa
Atabage Udagama Atabage Pallegama
Rs.5,000
2,500 1,200
250 paid. 300 paid.
Further contributions of Rs.500 and Rs. 250 are due from Pussellawa and Atabage Udagama on the 15th instant. Bonds have been executed in each case.
7. As regards (10), Pupuressa, there was a disturbance in one place only, a Moorman's boutique being attacked. A grossly fraudulent claim was submitted
by the occupant, who, I discovered, while claiming a very large amount for damages alleged to have been sustained, had managed to remove the bulk of his property for safe custody to a neighbouring estate factory, and had, in reality, suffered but trifling loss. I have not yet taken steps to recover money in Pupuressa.
8. As regards Kalugomuwa (11), I have fixed the amount to be recovered at Rs.600, and of this a sum of Rs.200 has already been paid, payment of the balance, Rs.400, having been promised on the 15th instant.
9. As regards Hindogala (12), very slight damages were inflicted on two boutiques. I have found it difficult to estimate these, as the occupants have left the country. The damages were estimated at the time at Rs.30 by the headmen, but I thought it desirable to impose a fine of Rs.500 on the inhabitants of the village, which amount has been paid.
10. As regards the Matale District, disturbances occurred at the following places, for which the amounts fixed as indemnity have been assessed as under :--
Matale Marukona Gurubibile
Rs.8,000.
4,000.
I am visiting Matale to-morrow to take steps regarding the recovery of these amounts. 11. In addition, a small outbreak occurred at Cabrogalla, which was not reported to me until a few days ago. I hope to be able to visit this spot in the near future.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
I am, &c.,
M. STEVENSON,
Special Commissioner.