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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
C.O. 882/10
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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6. The organizer of this riot was one N. C. Gunaratne, one of the " gentry of Madampe," and a person of considerable influence; he is a cousin of the Muhan- diram, who has since married his sister. This man was in Colombo ostensibly in connexion with the marriage of another sister, and, returning on the afternoon of the 2nd, at once began to collect his following of rowdies. Next day, he went to Nat- tandiya, hearing of the looting on the previous night, and returned about midday. His plan was simple whilst the Muhandiram was engaged at Lunu Oya bridge keeping the mob back, his retainers, mostly people of Duragama in Madampe, began looting in the rear. The Muhandiram naturally fell back to attend to this, and the mob then rushed in. The man was once tried in the Supreme Court for rioting at Pallewala, but was acquitted. I regret to have to report that he was let out on bail of Rs. 250, in spite of the protest of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, by the Police Magistrate, Mr. Gunatilake, who is his relative. He now awaits his trial by. court martial. The damage actually done amounted to Rs. 23,575, though Rs. 5,650 worth of goods have been recovered.
7. On the 3rd, about midday, looting began towards the boundary of Kurune- gala District in Pitigal Korale Central, and also in Pitigal Korale South. One, Hatwais, of Kudetiyawa, collected a gang and looted a boutique at Galehmulla, and many houses at Narawila and Kachchirawa, at which last place he was assisted by some people from Kirimetiyana. Next day, in the morning, be looted houses at Kudetiyawa, Tuttiripitiya, and Maningala, where he also damaged and defiled the mosque; he finally ended up by attacking a house at Narawila, from which he was driven away. The local headmen did nothing, and have been recommended for dis- missal. The total damage was about Rs. 8,000.
8. On the 3rd, morning, another gang, led by Herat Sinno, alias Bandappu, and an habitual criminal, Kandappu, having made preparations on the previous evening, looted the Moor boutiques at Kirimetiyana. Lunuwila was saved, owing to the presence of the vidane Arachchi; at Kirimetiyana, however, the police vidane did absolutely nothing, his two sons were implicated, and I have recommended the man for dismissal. A boutique at Mawatagama was also looted, chiefly by people from the Negombo District, and a Moorman robbed at Dankotuwa. In Pitiga!
Korale South, the Moors were all warned of the disturbances in Colombo District by the Mudaliyar, and much of their goods were removed in time. The total damage therefore was comparatively small, amounting to about Rs. 2,950. Some people of this division also took part in the loot of Kochchikade; Kammal Pattu, however, remained quiet.
9. On 4th June, a rumour began to spread in the neighbourhood of Nattandiya that the Moors were coming to attack the temple at Tabbowa and the church at Nattandiya. One of the Mudaliyar's clerks thereupon went towards Marawila spreading the news: the Police Magistrate sent off police, and went himself to Nat- tandiya: the Marawila church bell was also rung, the priest being away in Colombo, and the whole populace, armed with clubs and guns, streamed in the direction of Nattandiya Many, finding that the church was safe, returned, but a considerable number went on down the old road to attack the Moor village at Kottaramulla, where there would have been a very serious riot, resulting in many deaths, the Moors being also armed, but for the timely arrival of the Assistant Superintendent of Police and some volunteers, who disarmed and turned back the mob when half-a- mile from the village. On my inquiry the Mudaliyar's village committee clerk
admitted having despatched the other clerk, a few minutes after the Mudaliyar had left for Tabbowa, with a message that the Sinhalese in the town were likely to attack the Moors who had taken refuge in the Mudaliyar's compound; but this statement was made some time after that of the junior clerk. My own impression is that the message as given by the junior clerk was actually sent by the Mudaliyar, who had 'completely lost his head. The Mudaliyar has since died. A similar rumour had spread into the Kurunegala District, and Mr. C. A. Peiris dispersed an armed crowd which was awaiting under a Korala the supposed attack of the Moors.
10. On the 5th an estate at Kunjikuliya, belonging to a Chilaw Moor, was looted by the people of Karawita Agara, the total damage amounting to Rs. 90. The Assistant Superintendent of Police and I got to the spot shortly afterwards and secured three accused: two of these were habitual criminals, and one of them ran into our arms whilst returning home with loot on him. They and the other accused are now before the District Court.
11. The next case of looting occurred on the 7th at Badahelagama, in Demala Hat Pattu, where damage was done to the extent of Rs. 155, exclusive of goods
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since returned; much of the loot was recovered. The offenders were chiefly from Kurunegala District, and the villagers joined in, being told that Government had given permission to loot for fourteen days. All who were identified were dealt with in the Puttalam Police Court with sufficient severity. This was the only case of looting
in the Puttalam District.
A recrudescence of looting occurred at Iluppadeniya, close to Chilaw Town, on the 11th; the damage, however, only amounted to Rs. 39. Strong measures were necessary to prevent the example being followed in isolated Moor houses and boutiques in Pitigal Korale North, and I therefore inflicted lashes, which had the desired effect, no further cases taking place. Throughout the disturbances in the two districts no one was shot.
13. No case of arson occurred. The damage done to buildings was little, being confined to breaking doors or door planks; show-cases and almirahs were smashed to get out their contents; elsewhere the damage was mischievous, crockery and pots being wantonly broken. The total damage, less goods recovered, as assessed, amounts to Rs. 66,800 odd.
14. Apart from the fact that N. C. Gunaratne returned from Colombo on the 2nd (vide paragraph 6), I can trace the advent of no known agitators or emissaries from Colombo. The spread, however, of rumours to the effect (a) that Government had given permission to loot the Moor boutiques and houses for a given number of days, and (b) after the looting that the temples and churches were in danger, stories which I believe were current also in other districts, indicate some such agency. My impression is that looting had been arranged, but that it took place in advance of the time fixed; I deduce this from the fact that the riots in Chilaw District did not take place simultaneously, but spread from one place to another, though very rapidly The first-named rumour was certainly believed in the remoter villages, the local accused in Demala Hat Pattu first of all thinking, when arrested, that the headmen were merely trying to extort money. Some colour was given to it by the talk that no action was being taken by the authorities in Colombo, the reason assigned being that the Moors were of the same religion as the Turks, and this was doubtless the more believed in owing to the often undisguised sympathies of the Moors with the enemy. The movement in Chilaw District seems to have had nothing to do with religion, Catholics as well as Buddhists looting indiscriminately.
15. The only evidence of the Theosophical Society having had a hand in the matter is the presence of that body's teacher with a gang of men near the Lunu Oya bridge, mentioned in paragraph 5. I may mention, however, that in the Kegalle District one of the usual items in the programme of a Samagama was to forbid all trade with Moors; so the late concerted attack is not a new movement.
16. With regard to the letter addressed by the Honourable Mr. Abdul Rahiman to His Excellency, in which he expresses his fear that the presence of Sinhalese officials with the Commissioners would tend to injustice towards the Moors in the matter of compensation, I venture to state that, though the Sinhalese naturally wish to minimise the losses, for which they have to pay, the chief enemy of the Moor is his own inveterate habit of lying: in almost every case where the truth has been told it has been under the influence of extreme fear. On the other hand, the Bombay merchants at Nattandiya claimed a large sum, but this was at once agreed to as correct by the Sinhalese present.
17. In conclusion, wish to bring to the notice of Government the assistance rendered by Lieutenant Sansoni, Officer Commanding Ceylon Light Infantry; and by Mr. Sam Martin and the Burgher community in general. Mr. H. A. Collette's (Assistant Superintendent of Police) help has been very great, and the police, with one exception, have done good work. Messrs. Templer, Assistant Conservator of Forests, and Coradine, District Engineer, have also given their help unstintingly. The only gentleman in the Sinhalese community, besides the headmen, who stands out prominently is Mr. C. A. Peiris, J.P. and Unofficial Police Magistrate, of Dunkanawa, who throughout has worked ungrudgingly, and, what is more, without waiting for orders; he dispersed armed crowds, and, in my opinion, deserves recog- nition at the hands of Government. Of the headmen, the Muhandiram of Madampe did as much as he could to avert the riot there, and worked excellently afterwards in searching for looted property; it is his misfortune that he is related to the instigator of the disturbance. Of the minor headmen, the Vidane Arachchies of Madampe and of Marawila and the Police Vidane of Mahabaddegama have rendered very good service. I would invite attention to my recommendation of the first-named for the rank of Muhandiram.
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