49
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
TUTI CO. 882/10
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
BF
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
91. Panjabi reduced.
93. Heavy rain.
98. To Becre tarlat.
91 Notices.
95. Night rounds.
96. With Mr. Collins.
1. Broning
rounds.
58. Gokarella
sion.
80
to get (or want!) half a dozen assistants, an army of clerks, three District Engineers, a tame photographer, a platoon of Punjabis, and a whole town of tents to house them, and heaven knows how many cars and carts to transport them. Something simpler seems required here.
Suddenly, without notice to me, thirteen Punjabis were withdrawn from here. It appeared afterwards that they are making up a draft for France, and more were sent to take their places. Wired also for six Punjabis to be sent to Chilaw for Riot Commission purposes. Spent afternoon going through papers with Mr.
Collins.
Heavy rain in evening. Did rounds between 11 p.m. and midnight. Tuesday, 15th.-After doing tappal went to Colombo and saw Colonial Secretary. Returned by 2.15 train in afternoon. Heavy rain in afternoon and evening. To my horror received copies of "Notice" issued over my name by the Government I think I prefer my own "Proclamation.” printer, with all its typographical errors.
A copy This thing looks more like a circus handbill than anything else. Besides, why direct is attached.* "Proclamation" to be issued when a "Notice," will suffice!
Went usual rounds at night. Wednesday, 16th-Drove Mr. Collins round town early. Spent most of day getting papers ready for Riot Commission work, arranging about cars, escorts, etc.
Rounds again in evening.
Thursday, 17th-After dealing with tappal started with Mr. Collins and Mr. Motored and walked to Kandegedera Riot Commis Powell for Gokarella on the Dambulla road.
and Ambanpola, and inspected the burnt and looted buildings at those places. At Ambanpola there was a Bana reading the night that a Moorman's boutique was burnt at Namalange Vihare, about two hundred yards from the building and within sight. The priest at first denied all knowledge of it, but afterwards admitted, under pressure, that he saw the fire, but took no steps to put it out, and made no attempt to get any of the crowd of two hundred people or more to do so! Took him in custody in the hope of evidence against him, but had to let him go later. A long, hot walk to Kandegedera Assessed damages and held inquiries all afternoon, and returned to Kurunegala late in the evening, getting dinner about 9 pm. Rounds later.
Friday. 18th.-Mr. Collins went to Wariyapola for Riot Commission, and Riot Commis having seen him off I went to Weuda with Mr. Powell. On the way inspected a It belongs to a Sinhalese woman, house near Mawatagama, which has been burnt. but was occupied by a Moorman whom she was trying to eject by process of law. It is probable that the man burnt the house himself.
99. Weuda
The Ratemiahatmaya stated that a man wanted at Rambukkana was hiding in Went there, but was told he had gone to Galle, an a house just beyond. incredible story, as he was seen the day before. His brother-in-law, the owner of the house, was inclined to be impudent, so I took him in custody pending production of the man wanted, and took him on to Weuda. In less than an hour the man who had gone to Galle" turned up, and the brother-in-law was released in a somewhat chastened frane of mind. The damage done in Wenda is very small, a thatched shed having been burnt and the doors and shutters of the mosque having been broken and some lamps smashed. Of course, exaggerated claims were put in by the people which one Moornian interested. The most serious damage was a broken arm sustained in the row, for which I awarded him Rs.100. He was quite modest about it, and said he thought he could get it cured for Rs.30 or Rs.40.
100. Evening rounds.
The Messrs. Vanderpoorten also came in and wasted a good deal of my more or less valuable time with insinuations against the Ratemahatmaya and other head- men. When I asked for proof they became evasive, and at last cleared out when I pointed that the fact was that less damage had been done in this division (Weuda Willi) than in any other, and that this hardly coincided with the theory that the The most Ratemahatmaya and headmen had connived at or inspired looting. expensive case here was a boutique on the Matale boundary, which had been looted but not fired. The looters piled the rice, etc., on the road and tried to burn it, but unfortunately poured over it a tin of gingelly oil. instead of kerosine, which would not burn. The spectacle of the ferocious looters sitting round the heap trying to light it up with inatches and shouting "Sadhu" at intervals must have been quite inspiriting!
Returned to Kurunegala late in the evening. Went usual rounds at night.
• Not transmitted to Colonial Office.
81
boutiques open.
Saturday, 19th.-Round town in morning. Most of the Moor boutiques are now 101. Mor reopening, and there is no scarcity of rice or anything else in the bazaar.
Sorting petitions and getting papers ready for further inquiries most of the
day.
102. Evening rounds.
hapura pre
Rounds again in afternoon and evening. Sunday, 20th.-Round town, including magazine guard in morning. Much wiring all day in connexion with precautions to prevent people from this 101 Anurad- Province attending the Anuradhapura pilgrimage; certain arrangements seem to cautions. have been made by the military authorities, without reference to me, which omit the most important means of access from Kurunegala to Anuradhapura except the rail- way, namely, the direct Kurunegala-Anuradhapura road! Later Mr. Macdonald, now of the Punjabis, late Civil Service, came in and explained that he himself was going to sit down with Punjabis at what he called a "road head" near Kalawewa.
Demonstrated to him, with the aid of a map, that if he sat there with an army it would not prevent people walking from Kurunegala to Anuradhapura. He then said he had understood from Mr. Hutt that I would guard this road as well as the Nikawewa road. This Mr. Hutt repudiated, and Mr. Macdonald agreed to find me six more Punjabis for this place, for which I had already asked. In the evening Mr. Collins arrived with Rs. 1,600 compensation money. Later a despatch rider came on a motor bicycle with a secret message from Inspector-General of Police, and a somewhat insolently worded communication from the Deputy Assistant Adjutant- General on the subject of the treatment of Punjabis, in which the Brigadier-General required" me to do and not to do various things. This I acknowledged and no more. Punjabis have been most useful in Kurunegala by their mere presence, and have not been by any means overworked. In fact, my principal trouble has been to find enough work for them to keep them out of mischief!
Visited railway station and town in evening in connexion with Inspector- 101. Bailway General of Police's message, and again late at night.
precautions.
magazine
Monday 21st.-Round town early and arranged with Assistant Superintendent 106. Changed of Police and Punjabi officer for the police to take over the magazine guard, and guard. the Punjabis to mount a guard at the railway station.
Went also to railway station and saw to arrangements. No sign of crowds to6. Punjabi waiting to go to Anuradhapura.
guard at station.
Also sent Mr. Bradley, in charge of six Punjabis, to Mahagalkadawala on 107. Sent out Kurunegala-Anuradhapura road by a special train, also a sub-inspector and three road parties. constables to Nikawewa, on old Anuradhapura road. Also informed Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General and Mr. Macdonald what had been done. This will leave me somewhat short of Punjabis here, but I cannot help it.
lins to
Mr. Collins went to Alawwa with six Punjabis on riot duty. I had intended 108. Mr. Col- to go, too, but thought it better to stay here till Wednesday. Went to railway station Alawwa. again in evening and again at night, all quiet, but some squabbling between the 109, Railway clerks and the railway Town Guards, which I quieted!
again.
Tuesday, 22nd.--Round town early and to railway station, and again several 110. Rounds. times in the day. All quiet.
watta Riot
Wednesday, 23rd. Went to Ganewatta by special train with Mr. Powell. 11. GADS. Thence to Hiripitiya. Assessed damage to boatique, which is just opposite the Commission. Peace Officer's boutique. The Peace Officer is now charged as an accused, and possibly rightly, but the Moormen originally told the police they only suspected him! A long and dreary journey on the Kumbukgete-four miles---where another boutique had been burnt.
Inquired all afternoon up to about 6 p.m. Damages small altogether, the build- ings being only mud and thatch.
sion.
Commis
Thursday, 24th.--On to Maho by special train in the morning and thence by 11. Mahu motor to Yapahuwa Junction, where a regular holocaust of Moor boutiques had been made, no less than five within a few yards of each other having been burnt. Thence went to Yapahuwa itself, where one large boutique had been burnt. Inquired all afternoon till about 7 p.m. The people assembled made a great hullaballoo about paying for their diversion. I refused to discuss the matter with them at all. The truth of the matter is that the Wanni Hat Pattu people are really rather tough customers and have been spoilt by a long course of Hulugalle Adigar, who. for reasons of his own, got numerous concessions out of Government for them, followed by the present Ratemahatmaya, who is very weak.
Friday, 25th.-Proceed to Galgamuwa by special train. There assessed damages 11. Galga to boutiques in the bazaar, and after breakfast proceeded by motor to Gallewa, where Commission.
G
muwa Riot