36
[ILLIT
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH -NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON,
1. Antici pated_ricta.
2. Visit to Weligama.
3. Dickwella.
1. The situation.
6. Prepara
Lion
6. Martial
LAW.
7. Weligama.
8. Procla motion of
!
}
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Enclosure 1 in No. 34.
EXTRACTS REFERRED TO.
1ST JUNE. About 8 p.m. received telegram from Government Agent giving necessary instructions as regards anticipated riots. Saw Assistant Superintendent of Police and discussed matters with him. No symptoms of any local trouble at
present.
2nd June. Saw the Mudaliyar, Weligam Korle, and sent him out to Weligama, Then motored an important Moorish centre, to reside there for a few days. Assistant Superintendent of Police out there and saw the leading men of all com- munities. Here the relations between Moors and Sinhalese seem to be cordial, and we were given satisfactory assurances.
In the afternoon we went out to Dickwella. This is a place where trouble is most likely to occur, but there appeared to be no sign of ill-feeling, and Moors and Sinhalese were mixing together freely in the bazaar.
Sa long as no agitators come here from outside, the situation seems to be gener- ally satisfactory: I have seen Lieutenant Cheesewright, Ceylon Light Infantry, and arranged with him to have his few Volunteers available for an emergency.
3rd June. Public holiday. Spent some time with the Assistant Superintendent of Police completing arrangements and preparing list of special constables. Heard from Government Agent that the rioting had spread to Galle.
At 8 p.m. received a wire from Colonial Secretary that martial law had been proclaimed in the district.
At 10 p.m. received a wire from Senior Magistrate, Ahangama, that one hundred armed men were marching from Ahangama on Weligama. Leaving Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge here I took out an armed force, seven police and seven Ceylon Light Infantry, in a motor lorry. Our arrival was timely. We found that a certain number of men had arrived from Ahangama, and were being held in conversation by the Mudaliyar at the outskirts of the town. No weapons, however, were to be seen, and the men disclaimed hostile intentions, saying that they had heard some relations of theirs had been injured and had come to see them. They were ordered to return to their villages at once, and did so. After waiting some time we returned to Matara, where the only trouble to-night was the destruction of a small abandoned mosque in the outskirts. When the police arrived no one was to be seen. The town itself was quite tranquil. I got to bed about 3 a.m.
4th June-Took steps for general proclamation of martial law. Proclaimed by martial law. beat of tom-tom that all persons were to be in their houses between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Issued orders for closure of all taverns. Assistant Superintendent of Police swore in a number of special police, ex-Volunteers being armed with available Ceylon Light Infantry rifles. Mudaliyar, Wellaboda Pattu, reported all well at Dickwella.
Found all quiet. At 11 a.m. proceeded to Kamburupitiya, eleven miles inland. Saw most of the headmen and the Mudaliyar.
9. Kamburg- ¡itiya.
10. Riot al loda pitiya.
Riot, Weligams.
At about 3 p.m. received a message via Matara that the large Moorish mosque at Godapitiya, near Akuressa, was being attacked by about 2,000 men. Also that
a riot had broken out at Weligama. Proceeded at once to Godapitiya (ten miles from Kamburupitiya). On arrival found a terrible scene of ruin, but no sign of the rioters, who had all cleared off. The village was in flames. The mosque, one of the finest in the district, had evidently been blown up with dynamite, while the surrounding coco-nut trees had been felled so as to fall on the roof. Parts of it were on fire. There was one dead Moorman in the compound, while eight others (two of whom died on the way to hospital) were seriously injured. A few Moormen collected on my arrival from the surrounding jungle, whither they had fled. It was most pitiful, and one's sense of helplessness was overwhelming. The four police from Akuressa had been present throughout, but as there had been no time to com- municate with them re proclamation of martial law, they had not ventured to fire. The Mudaliyar whom I took with me I left to look after the injured men, and returned to Matara. Found that slight damage had been done at Akuressa, the road being covered with broken glass and plates. Got back to Matara at about 8 p.m., meeting on the way an armed car which the Assistant Superintendent of Police, thinking I was in difficulties, had sent to meet me.
Found at Matara that the news of the Weligama riot had arrived about 2 p.m. The Ceylon Light Infantry under Lieutenant Cheesewright and Colour-Sergeant Parker had been despatched at once, a further reinforcement being sent later. Assistant Superintendent of Police had also wired for troops.
55
Unfortunately the Ceylon Light Infantry were too late to prevent much damage being done, many boutiques and two mosques having been sacked and fired before 'heir arrival. However, they arrested seventy-eight of the rioters, a creditable performance considering their small numbers. The troops arrived by the last train, and some of the Ceylon Light Infantry under Lieutenant Cheesewright returned to Matara.
Between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. there were two alarms in Matara.
In each case 12. Alarmı one cadjan hut belonging to Moors was burnt in the outskirts of the town, but the police were too late to catch anyone. Got to bed about 2.30 a.m. The rest of the night was quiet in the town.
5th June.-The seventy-eight rioters arrested at Weligama were brought in by 13. Rioters. the first train and lodged in the jail, which is therefore very crowded. They will be tried on Monday.
Lieutenant Farley arrived with his Punjabis, and will make Matara his head- 14. Troops.
quarters.
The Mudaliyar, Weligam Korle, came in to see me, and described the incidents 15. Weligama of the riot. It broke out very suddenly, and seems to have been the work of outsiders riot. and not of the Weligama people themselves.
rumour.
A rumour was spread, evidently by interested agitators, that two Buddhist 16. False priests had been killed at Weligama. This rumour seems to have spread all over the district, and used to fan the passions of the Buddhists.
Kamburg.
At 2.30 p.m. two cars were sent out with Punjabis and police on patrol. Going 17. Rioters to Kamburupitiya they found a riot had just broken out. About 800 men were caught at engaged in looting the bazaar. The Kamburupitiya police had already started to pitiys fire. The force from Matara, arriving from the other direction, caught the rioters between two fires, and killed or wounded about thirty of them.. The rest fled. Two of the ringleaders were captured and brought to Matara One hopes this example may prove a salutary lesson.
At 3 p.m. received news of a riot at Gandara, on the coast road, five miles from 18. Gandara. Matara. Sent out a force in two cars. They returned about 5 and reported that little or no damage had been done, the local police and headmen having induced the rioters to go away. Only a few tiles of the mosque had been broken.
Between 6 and 8 p.m. went round the town with the special constables to see 19. Rounds. that order confining people to their houses was observed. Very few people about. These were arrested and put in the cells.
Deniyaya
At 10.30 p.m. received a wire from Mudaliyar, Morawak Korle, that serious 70. Riot, rioting had started at Deniyaya, forty-two miles from Matara. Saw Lieutenant Farley, who was averse from sending assistance to such a distant place. However, the call being an urgent one. I persuaded him to send out a car with four of his men, accompanied by Mr. Balfour, Police Magistrate, and Lieutenant Wickreme- ratne, Ceylon Light Infantry.
Went round the town in my car at midnight and found all quiet. Weligama 11. Rounds. wired "all well."
29. Riot,
6th June, Sunday-The armed party returned from Deniyaya and reported Deniyaya that they arrived too late to be of any assistance. Five Moorish boutiques and a small mosque had been destroyed. The Mudaliyar and several planters had been present, but for want of firearms could do nothing. A dynamite cartridge had been thrown at them. The leader of the rioters was the son of a headman. On their way back the party seized three cartloads of loot. They also arrested about a dozen people.
News of a riot at Horagoda, a small Moorish village in Weligam Korle, at miḍ- 23. Horagoda day yesterday, only came through this morning. Three injured Moors were also brought in. They state that at this place several headmen took a prominent part in the riot.
To-day the Kachcheri Mudaliyar took out the High Priest in a villages near Matara, and he directed them to cease from rioting. The priest is a
car to the 1. The High
Priest. man of much influence and his advice should have good effect.
of
The various patrols reported all quiet in the district to-day. I motored roundation the town after midnight with Assistant Superintendent of Police, and found all quiet. The special constables, including several prominent Sinhalese gentlemen of the place, are doing very good work.
7th June-Several of the Morawak Korle planters arrived to-day. They will 16. Planters, assist the Officer Commanding the Troops in taking out parties. They do not seem to have distinguished themselves at Deniyaya.