189
103
1
I
D. Punchi Banda, of Witilagama, affd.
On the 30th May last I went to Kadugannawa. I saw the eighth accused, and went to the village with him. I left for Kadugannawa after 12.0. went with him for about two miles. Then we separated. I went to my house. He went away.
Sirisoma, of Kotaligoda, affd.
On the 30th May last I was in Kadugannawa. I met the korala there. I went to my village with him. I met him at Kadugannawa at about 2.30 or 3.0 p.m. Sun- dara and another were with us. We went back about three miles, and then separated. I went to my house. Korala went to his walauwa.
A. Sundara, of Teldeniya, affd.
I know the korala, the eighth accused. On 30th May I met him in Kadugan- nawa about 3.0 or 3.30 p.m. He was going to his village. I accompanied him. I' went near his walauwa. He went to his walauwa, and I went my way.
Cross-examined: With us there were three others. I accompanied the korala,
as I met him on the way.
Ukku Banda, Haliadde Arachchi, affd.
I know the Kobbekaduwa korala. I was one of his subordinate headmen. On the 30th May I met him near the Pansala Teldeniya. He was speaking to somebody and going towards his walauwa.
Ninth accused, Rankotpedigedera Rankira, affd.
I am the ninth accused in this case. I am vidane of Matgomuwa for about ten years, I met the Pallegedera Arachchi about 4.30 or 5.0 p.m. He asked me to do some duty. The korala was expected the following morning about a land dispute. He asked me to tell the parties, the owners, about it. I went there and told them. Next morning we were present, waiting for the korala. He did not come. I did not leave my village on the 30th at all. Nor did I take part in riots.
Cross-examined: I did not know crowds were there in Kadugannawa that day. Kirala, Arachchi of Matgomuwa, affd.
I am Arachchi of Matgomuwa and Kunputtala. Ninth accused is a headman under me.
On the 30th May I received a letter from the Kandupalata korala,
I sent vidane Duraya to inform the people as was said in the letter. That was on the 30th May. I saw him leave in the direction of Gampola. Next day I went to the place where the korala was expected. Ninth also came there after I went, and both remained till the korala come. He did not come.
Cross-examined: I did not go to Kadugannawa that day. I live two miles away from Kadugannawa. I heard of the riots.
Podi Nona (wife of Juwanis), affd.
I am a Kandyan, married to a low-country man. I live at Ambagestenna. One of my cousins gave a petition to the Government Agent about the partition of a land. That petition went to the Ratemahatmaya. On the 30th May we received a mes- sage from the korala. The message was conveyed by the vidane, the ninth accused. He came at about 5 or 5.30 p.m., and said that the korala was expected the following morning. The next morning the vidane and the Arachchi both came.
We waited for the korala. He did not turn out.
Cross-examined: I live within their jurisdiction.
Tenth accused, Punchi Banda, Peace Officer, affd.
My age is 49. I am Peace Officer of Medapalata from 1902. I know the Atipola korala. He is my superior headman. I saw him on the 31st, morning, at about 10.0.
I met him on the night at 11.0. I went to complain to him that the Dantura boutiques are broken. It is within his jurisdiction. He asked me to go, saying he would come Next morning I went to Kadugannawa and met Mr. Woodman there. Moor- men came and made complaints to Mr. Woodman. Against me no complaint was made.
Sarana, of Dantura, affd.
I live at Dantura. I know Kirala. He is a witness in this case.
He was bitten by a snake about a month ago. I knew about the riots the following morning. The previous evening I went to Kirala's. I went with the Peace Officer of Meda- palata. Kirala was unconscious at the time. Tenth accused attended on him. He regained consciousness at about 8.0. He got marks of the bite of the snake. All that time the tenth accused was there. About 9.0 or 10.0 he went away.
Cross-examined: I am not under him.
Kirala, of Walgouwe, affd.
On the afternoon of the 30th May I was bitten by a snake.
I have the mark yet.
When he
I sent for the tenth accused. He has a reputation for curing snake bites, came I was unconscious. I regained consciousness after about 6.0 or 7.0 p.m. Then I saw the Peace Officer there. He left my place at about 8.0 p.m.
Cross-examined: He is the headman of my place.
Mr. Jones, engine driver, affd. I am engine driver.
Just on the roadside. I reside in Kadugannawa. remember the 30th May. I was at Kadugannawa on that day from 7.0 a.m. till 9.0 p.m. I went in the direction of the boutique at 3.0 p.m. I strolled the streets. There was a large crowd of people. The crowd was collecting and gradually increas- ing. I apprehended danger. I kept patrolling the streets from about 10.0 a.m. to 9.0 p.m. I got into the Rum Fish Restaurant. I got in there at 10.0 a.m. Pinto, Peace Officer, there. Of these accused I saw the Kobbekaduwa korala. He was in the restaurant. He was seated down doing nothing. I saw him for two hours, then I lost sight of him. I did not see him afterwards. I know one Alex- ander, who is charged in connexion with the riot. I saw him that night several times. I passed by till 9.0 p.m.
I saw
Cross-examined: I saw Alexander. I noticed unusual crowds about 10.0 a.m. At about 2.0 o'clock the crowd got into thousands. They were unusual crowds. Before 2.0 o'clock I anticipated nothing. I saw the first accused between 2.0 and 3.0 p.m. in the afternoon. He was with a crowd of couple of hundreds. I did not hear the Peace Officer tell him to go away. I saw the Peace Officer dispersing people in different places.
Bv first accused's Counsel: Was the first accused drunk at that time? Witness: I am no judge of liquor. I cannot say whether he was drunk. Inspector Cooray, sworn.
I am first-class Inspector of Police in Kandy. I know Mr. Ratwatte, shroff of the bank. I know he had charged a Moorman trying to extort money from him. The Moorman was arrested. I cannot say whether he is on remand or bail.
Cross-examined: This is in Kandy. There is no official order made in the case. Mr. G. S. Woodman, sworn.
I went to Kadugannawa on the morning of the 31st May. I had one or two complaints made to me. I made no inquiries at that time as I went on police duty. In fact, telegrams had been received expecting further riots. On that morning first, second, third, fourth, ninth, and tenth, were charged. I questioned Careem and Abdul Cader. Abdul Cader charged the ninth accused. Tenth was charged by Abdul Cader.
Cross-examined: Third was charged by Careem, and also information was given to me by the Peace Officer. Against the second information was given by Pinto, Peace Officer. The ninth was charged by Careem. On Saturday or Friday the fifth was charged on information that there was stolen property in his boutique. I went and saw the property. The boutique was closed. He was not to be found. The fourth was charged by Careem and Pinto, Peace Officer. The tenth accused was charged by Abdul Cader. The Peace Officer was not present at that time. I did not make any full inquiries at the time.
The accused 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11 were found guilty. 6 and 8 not guilty.
Prisoners :---
KANDY, NO. 2.-FIELD GENeral Court MARTIAL. 26th-31st July, 1915.
Kuda Banda Kobbekaduwa, Arachchi of Teldeniya, and ten others.
Charges:-
1. Treason.
2. Riotously damaging a building.
3. Shopbreaking.
4. Shopbreaking.
5. Shopbreaking.
6. Shopbreaking.
7. Shopbreaking.
8. Shopbreaking.
9. Shopbreaking.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
FILIN CO. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
: