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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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IT ICO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Special commissioners should encourage voluntary settlement by lump sum pay- ment. They should offer each village the choice between contributing voluntarily forthwith in cash or approved securities such sums as the special commissioner may assess as its share of the damage done in the district or of being subjected hereafter to punitive measures. Stress should be laid on the advantages of the former course, and the villagers should be informed that, if it is adopted, the rank and file of the looters will not be prosecuted for theft, provided that they are not found in possession of loot. If they decide against settlement on this basis of voluntary contribution, they must understand that the punitive measures which will be adopted will include the levy of a tax which will be sufficient to cover not only the sum assessed on the village as its share of the ascertained damage, but the cost of collection, including probably the expense of punitive police and a proportion of the cost of the commis- sion, etc. Also every man against whom evidence is available will be prosecuted.

H. H. L. MALCOLM, Brigadier-General,

Commanding the Troops, Ceylon.

SIR

12th June, 1915.

Enclosure 4 in No. 11.

Kandy Kachcheri, 10th June, 1915. Riots in Matale.

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith a copy of letter No. A, of the 5th instant, from my assistant at Matale, and to state that Mr. Rogerson dealt very ably with the situation.

The Honourable

Colombo.

The Colonial Secretary,

(No. A.)

SIR,

I am, &c.,

C. S. VAUGHAN, Government Agent, Central Province.

The Kachcheri, Matale, 5th June, 1915.

Riots in Matale.

I HAVE the honour to report that a riot took place in Matale Town at about 8 p.m. on the 31st ultimo. There was no special local cause beside the unrest in the Central Province. The trouble was caused by the Sinhalese, who attacked Moor boutiques

Mr. Aluwihare, R.M., Matale South, was in town and was attempting to quieten the Sinhalese, but he told me that many of them refused to listen to him. The Sub-Inspector and Town Mohumdiram were doing their best to prevent a crowd collecting.

At 6 p.m. I motored through the town and it was evident that a large number of villagers had come to Matale. No large crowd collected until about 7.80 p.m., when people gathered in the main street, uttering cries at intervals; its temper seemed somewhat uncertain. I therefore proceeded to the Post Office and was about to telegraph that trouble was expected at any moment when the Sub-Inspector came up and informed me that rioting had begun. I at once telegraphed to Superin- tendent of Police, Kandy, and went to the centre of the disturbance. There were two fires in the centre of the road, and I saw people throwing goods from the Moor boutiques on the flames. As many of the crowd, Sinhalese and Moor, were armed with axes and other weapons and refused to obey the orders of the police, I ordered them later to fire blank cartridges. This had a most salutary effect, and the crowd rapidly dispersed, chiefly down the side streets that led off the main street. I then proceeded with Messrs. Abbott, Evans, Hayden, the Sub-Inspector of Police, and the Town Mohandiram to disperse the small gangs who were still giving trouble at various points. A man was found on the side of the main road nearly dead, with knife injuries. He was sent in a stretchar to hospital, but died on the way.

We then turned our attention to the Kandy end of the town, where there was a small knot of people and a Moor boutique had been wreaked. These rioters were soon dispersed and we returned up the main street.

Mr. Evans heard a groan

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coming from the side of the road, and on inspection we found a man three-quarters buried under a culvert. He was extricated, found to be badly injured, and sent to hospital, where he died the following day. Both the dead men were Sinhalese. Mr. de Kretser District Engineer, had, on my instructions, sent for the Ceylon Light Infantry, and they were then posted at the main entrance to the town in moter cars, and ordered to report every half hour.

We continued to parade the town, making a few arrests, and ordering all people to remain in their houses.

At 12.30 a detachment of Punjabis under Lieut. Watson and a force of police under Superintendent Thornhill with four special constables arrived in motor cars, and after a parade of the town picketed in the police station compound. A slight disturbance occurred about 1.30 a.m., but was speedily quelled, and a few more arrests made. Ninety-four were arrested in all.

During the riot I had, in addition to the police force, the most valuable assist- ance of Messrs. Abbott, Evans, and Hayden, and five of the Ceylon Light Infantry, who had been collected by Mr. de Kreteer, District Engineer, on my orders. The police with Sub-Inspector Packir showed much energy and keenness, as did also the Town Mohandiram. It was due to the great assistance given me by all whom I have mentioned that the disturbance assumed no more serious proportions.

On the 1st instant at 6 am. Lieutenant Watson and Superintendent Thornhill left for Kandy, as there was no food for the Punjabis in Matale. Twenty constables were left under a European police sergeant. It was thought advisable to lessen the congestion at the police station, and Superintendent Thornhill took sixteen prisoners with him to Kandy. An additional seventy were despatched by the 4 p.m. train under police guard, as further trouble was anticipated and room was required in the station in case of further arrests.

At about 10 a.m, information was received that a riot had broken out at Kaika- wela, and I sent a force of constables under the European police sergeant in two motor cars. They returned three hours later and reported all quiet and that no rioting had occurred.

Sergeant Thomson, Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps, came to see me at 12 noon, and as a recrudescence of the riot seemed probable after dusk, I instructed him to collect as many Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps as could be spared from the estates within the Matale district. Corporal Bond, Ceylon Mounted Rifles, also came for instructions. He arranged to collect seven men at 5 p.m.

At 2 p.m. a message was received from the Koombiangoda Pansala that the villagers, expecting to be molested by the Moors, were collecting at the Temple. I sent Mr. Abbott and the Sub-Inspector by motor car, and they reported that a large crowd of some 400 had collected, but were peaceful.

At different times of the day I was petitioned by each section of the community, who feared attacks from the other sections. I informed them that precautions had

been taken.

At 4 p.m a telegram was received from Mr. LeFeuvre of Rattota that a riot had broken out and his store had been attacked. I at once sent out a force of police and Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps. They returned some two hours later to say that the telegram had been sent by a mistake on the part of Mr. LeFeuvre, who, without making any investigation, wired for police on the bare word of his panic-stricken storekeeper. I am calling on Mr. LeFeuvre for his explanation. At about the same time a wire was received from Ukuwela to say that looting had broken out there. Another small force was despatched. After they had been absent for some two hours I sent Trooper Barlow on a motor cycle to report. He returned and reported that he met a large crowd at Ukuwela armed with sticks. I thereupon sent another force, including four Punjabis, under Lieutenant Brockman. They dis- persed the crowd. removing their weapons, and returned via Koombiangoda. The temple there was crowded with Sinhalese armed with sticks, etc., but apparently peaceful. They were ordered not to leave the temple premises. The detachment then returned to Matale.

At 5.30 p.m. I had collected a force of Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps under Lieutenant Brockman, Ceylon Mounted Rifles under Corporal Bond, and Ceylon Light Infantry. The latter, having no officer in Matale, were placed under Lien- tenant Brockman, I placed pickets at the various entrances to the town and they were relieved every three hours. I visited all pickets from time to time. p.m., on instructions received from you by telegram, I enrolled as special constables Messrs. Ross, Perne, Edwards, and Senior White, and wired to you requesting that

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