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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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TIL CO. 882/10
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
6. Martial
law pro
claimed
7. Patrol work.
1. Demma inpuriya.
9. Hive averted.
10. Boundary of Kurahe-
84
Had we gone down the Old Road first we should have run right into the main body of the rioters.
In the evening to Chilaw. Martial law proclaimed. In police station till after midnight, sending out the Proclamation and various orders.
4th. By motor down the Old Road to Nattandiya and so to Kottaramulla, a small Moor village. The Moors were drawn up for defence and had caught one of the Madampe looters with loot on him. On to Kirimetiyana, looted on 3rd; to Mawa- tagama, looted on the same day; Dankotuwa, where a Moor had been robbed; so to Toppu and up the main road to Marawila.
In afternoon back to Mawatagama on a false report that trouble was expected from some Moors said to be attacking temples. Returned to Madampe. Hearing that looting was proceeding at Dummalasuriya, just over the boundary, went thither, but found looting had occurred in the morning. Found part of the loot in house and boutique and hidden in garden of one Herathami. He was arrested, and goods with list given to the Arachchi.
Meanwhile, news of trouble at Nattandiya. Assistant Superintendent of Police and Town Guard proceeded by 'bus: found large crowds from Marawila summoned by message purporting to come from Mudaliyar, Pitigal Korale Central: they had turned out, hearing that the Moors were destroying Tabbowa temple and were coming on to attack Nattandiya church: most of them, finding this untrue, returned quietly. Others proceeded to Kottaramulla: Assistant Superintendent of Police arrived just in time to prevent collison with armed Moors of that village: disarmed the people and turned them back. He then went on to Kirimetiyana and dispersed a small crowd there. A bad riot prevented.
This day Mr. C. A. Pieris dispersed an armed crowd at Tuttiripitiya on the gala District, boundary 1, under a Korala; this was awaiting an alleged Moor attack on the temples, and is said to have included some of the looters who had attacked the Moor hamlet at Maningala. This looting occurred under the direction of a noted rowdy Hatwais, at Maningala, where the mosque was desecrated, and at Narawala on 3rd and 4th.
11 Kanjik kuliya.
12. Madampe and Negombo
18. Only loot- ing in Patta.
Kachchirawa, a Moor hamlet, was attacked on the 3rd, afternoon, by some of the men who looted Kirimetiyana.
5th. Report that a Moor estate at Kunjikkuliya had been looted. Set out at once with Assistant Superintendent of Police, arriving about three-quarters of an hour after event. Caught three men, including two habitual criminals, one of whom ran into our arms while returning home with his share of the loot. Other eight arrested subsequently. Part of loot recovered: total damage small.
In evening to Marawila interviewed parish priest, who was absent on 4th; inquired into ringing of the church bell by the sacristan to collect the people (vide paragraph 9).
6th. To Madampe to get evidence as to riot. Met Mr. Dawson come up from Negombo and ran down road with him and conferred with base officer. Returned by Old Road. Prisoners brought in from Madampe and elsewhere, ninety in number: lodged in jail and police station.
This day, Badanelagama boutique looted by a gang from Kurunegala District, am district headed by one Kandappu, of Anavilundawa, ex-Peace Officer, assisted by local
villagers
14. Patrol.
15. Pulich. chakulam.
18. Dilaton-
7th. In morning patrolled Bingiriya road, and in afternoon to Kuliyapitiya and back.
8th. Report of a gang advancing to loot Pulichchakulam, a Moor village north of Battuluoya left with a picket, but found that the gang, which had looted Bada- helgama, had gone back to Kurunegala District. Ran up Bangadeniya road and back. Received telegram from Government Agent to send in available cars to Kurune- of Chila gala. Assistant Superintendent of Police wired to Marawila police station at 11.30 received by police there, in my presence, at 1.45 p.m. This is again the work of the Chilaw Postmaster, who cannot send Government telegrams in time yet manages to transmit long telegrams from Mr. C. E. Corea to the papers.
From Marawila to Dummaladeniya with Mudaliyar, Pitigal Korale South, up to boundary on the Giriulla road, back by Old Road to Marawila, and so to Chilaw.
postminster, ride para Kruph ↑
17. Patrol.
Is Abama duwa and
Puttalam
9th. Ratemahatmaya wires for assistance, as trouble was anticipated at Anama- duwa. Went up there, picking up two constables at Puttalam. Found all quiet: Ratenahatmaya only thought that there possibly might be trouble and that police would frighten the people! Left one constable and returned to Puttalam. Moors
85
in Puttalam arming: were disarmed, and manufacturer of swords, etc., fined Rs. 100. Received General's instructions of 9th instant.
10th.
Back to Chilaw. Busy with Proclamations, etc.
Madampe
11th. N. Gunaratna, instigator of Madampe riot, who had been let out by Mr. 19. Arraet of Gunatilake, Police Magistrate, his relative, on bail of Rs. 250/250 only, appeared ringleader. ready for trial: rearrested him under instructions of 9th instant, and sent him to Welikade Jail in charge of Messrs. Templer and Coradine.
deniya.
In afternoon Punjabis, under Mr. Wickwar, arrived from town in Kurunegala 2011- District: on news of small looting affair at Iluppadeniya, near Chilaw, ran out with them and caught two men.
12th. Proclamations printed and sent out. Received telegram from Government Agent to come to Kurunegala.
In afternoon to Madampe. 13th. Left early for Kurunegala conferred with Government Agent. 14th. Mr. Collins, Special Commissioner, arrived. Left for Chilaw. Six Punjabis, under non-commissioned officer, arrived late at night: quartered 22. Arrival in empty house opposite Mr. Victor Corea's.
15th.
In Chilaw, preparing for the Commission.
21. Kurune gala.
of Punjabis.
16th. Madampe collected evidence on oath and assessed damages. Not com- 23. Madampe plete, as valuations of goods recovered not ready. Back to Chilaw.
WOWL.
17th. Mahawewa: accused, Manuel Perera Jayasinha, a wealthy man, ex-head- 24. Maha- man and renter, with his son and son-in-law looted Mahawewa and Mattakotuwa.
Martinu, an habitual criminal, also chief offender, collected mobs and looted at Koswadiya, Kuda wewa, etc.
In evening to Marawila.
18th. Inquiry at Nattandiya: damages over Rs. 24,000. The chief accused are Aron Appu, a noted rowdy of Nattandiya, and Manuel Perera, of Kachchirawa.
19th. To Nattandiya. Mudaliyar had failed to get up witnesses re Maningala disturbance: much time wasted.
15. Nattan. diya
It is Blot, ride
paragraph 9.
In afternoon to Marawila; took evidence as to the averted riot on 4th. clear that a clerk came from the Mudaliyar's walauwa to collect people to repulse the imaginary Moor attack. The clerk alleges that the order came from the village committee clerk, who, in his turn, alleges that after the Mudaliyar had gone to Tabbowa he sent a message to the Police Magistrate at Marawila that he was afraid the Sinhalese in the bazaar would attack the Moors, who had taken refuge at the walauwa. My own impression is that the order came from the Mudaliyar, who had lost his head.
20th. To Kachchirawa, a small Moor hamlet; no boutiques, but only houses, 17. Nara looted on to Narawila and recorded the evidence as to this, the looting of Mooria, etc. houses at Narawila and at Maningala. The ringleader is one Hatwais, a local rowdy: he defiled the Maningala mosque in addition, and one of the Sepoys wanted to shoot him outright. After breakfast walked to Maningala and assessed damage there, and so back to the Dunkannawa road. Police vidanes of Narawila and
Sandanamgama had done absolutely nothing, and were suspended for dismissal.
To Marawila for night.
21st. To Haldanduwana: inquired into looting at Kirimetiyana and Mawata- 28. Halden- gama: the Moors had warning from the Mudaliyar and removed much of their duwana, goods, but nevertheless put in grossly exaggerated claims. Many of the people at
the south end of the district helped to loot Kochchikade.
22nd. To Chilaw. Inquiry re Kunjikkuliya and Iluppudeniya (vide para- graphs 11 and 22). The Duraya of Karawitaagare said to be at the back of the looting of the former place: he is to pay up: further inquiry to be held.
and Kalnoys.
23rd. To Puttalam. In afternoon to Kalaoya, where a detachment of Punjabis 19. Puttalam is stationed to prevent people going to the Poson Poya at Anuradhapura. Mr. Crowe, District Engineer, is in charge of provisioning: they are twenty-three miles off, and their work would have been quite efficiently carried out two miles north of Puttalam, where all traffic can be intercepted.
dawa.
24th To Anamaduwa and on to Badahelagama, where I inspected the only 30. Am boutique looted in Puttalam District (vide paragraph 13). mitted by people of Kurunegala District, aided by some in this district. The latter The offence was com- have been prosecuted and jailed. The total damage was little.
Returned to Puttalam.
25th. Office.
26th. To Chilaw. Recorded further evidence re Mahawewa looting.