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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 882/10

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Messrs. Abbott, Evans, Hayden, A. B. Thomson, and Bond might be appointed temporary U.P.M.'a.

At 7 p.m. ten Punjabis under a sergeant arrived and were quartered in the rest house verandah. The moral effect of their presence was undoubtedly very great. The pickets were withdrawn at sunrise and a number of the volunteers returned home with orders to assemble at the rest house at 5 p.m.

There was no trouble during the 2nd instant. The same system of patrols was employed during the night and motor cycle scouts were sent out to outlying villages on all the main roads, and no reports of trouble were received from them.

The same procedure was adopted on the 3rd instant. All was quiet and the crop of rumours lessened appreciably. A serious stabbing case was reported early from Teldeniya, and Mr. Van-Rooyen, who had returned on the second evening, proceeded to inquire. He returned later, and then reported that trouble was expected at Panwila, and steps were taken by me as Magistrate of that district to keep order.

During the afternoon I visited Ukuwela, Marukona, and Kumbanwela. Two boutiques had been looted on the 31st at Marukona. I proceeded to Malvern Estate and discussed the situation with the Superintendent, Mr. Bigge. I then turned through Bowatte, where a Moorman had died through falling while running in fear from the rioters, and re-entered Matale by Koombiangoda bridge. All was quiet. At 6 p.m. a report arrived that there had been a row the previous night among the coolies of Yatawatte Estate, who had obtained arrack from the tavern.

There was also a rumour that rowdies were expected in that direction from Dodangaslande. I took two motor-cars with a party, harangued the coolies, severely warned the Yata- wattee renter, and returned to Matale. There was no sign of rioters from Dodangas- lande. At 9.30 I received your telegram stating that martial law was proclaimed, and discussed the necessary steps with Lieutenant Brockman. The town was patrolled during the night as usual.

This morning at 8 am. I assembled the town people by beat of tom tom, and in the presence of all forces, regular and volunteer, paraded in front of the police station, proclaimed martial law, explained the meaning, and issued necessary orders. Representatives of the various races and religions were present.

I am, &c.,

The Honourable the Government Agent,

Central Province, Kandy.

31540

SIR,

No. 12.

W. J. L. ROGERSON, Assistant. Government Agent.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 9th July, 1915.)

(Confidential.)

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 16th June, 1915. In continuation of my Confidential despatch of the 15th instant on the subject of the recent riots, I have the honour to enclose copies of two letters from the Police Magistrate of Gampola for your further information.

2. Owing to the wide ares over which rioting took place and to the very large number of persons concerned in the riots, there has been a great increase in the number of prisoners, and this number is likely to increase still more as the cases of accused persons now on bail or otherwise at large are dealt with by the police magistrates, special commissioners, etc. The Inspector-General of Prisons réporta that several of the jails are already seriously overcrowded.

To deal with this situation I have instructed the Director of Public Works, in conjunction with the Inspector-General of Prisons, to arrange for temporary additions to the prisons of Welikade and Jaffna; and other similar measures may be required further to cope with the situation.

* No. 11.

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3. I am in receipt of your cipher telegram of the 15th instant with further reference to the Punjabi draft. At the moment of writing the Officer Commanding the Troops is out of Colombo on duty up country; but immediately on his return (which is expected to take place early on the morning of the 17th instant) I will confer with him on the subject, and thereafter address a telegraphic reply to your inquiry.

SIB,

I have, &c.,

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Enclosure 1 in No. 12.

Governor.

Police Court, Gampola, 31st May, 1915.

Wesak Riot at Gampola, 30th May, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to send you a detailed report of the above disturbance up to 31st instant, 10 a.m. The police anticipated some form of disturbance in view of the Wesak row in Kandy the previous day, and, though a licence had been issued for a procession to conduct a priest to the Wanawasa Pansala, the leaders were induced to drop the procession.

2. At 4.30 the Police Sergeant brought to my bungalow three Moor traders, who stated that a mob of 500 persons were threatening their boutiques at Sinhaya- pitiya, about one mile from Gampola. I proceeded there, but found not a soul upon the scene, and in consequence was inclined to feel that the rumours I had heard of trouble in Gampola were also due to the over-excited nerves of the Mohammedans.

3. I walked round the town at 5.0 and noticed nothing unusual save that many strangers from outside appeared to have congregated in the street and the police were having difficulty in moving them on. The Police Sergeant, on my advice, wired to Kandy for extra constables by motor.

4. Mr. H. D. Keppitipola, the Ratemahatmaya of Udapalata, came to my bungalow at 5.45 and said he had spoken to the leaders of the Buddhist and Moham- medan communities and the former had guaranteed that no row would take place.

5. The row began, however, soon after 6.30. A preacher at the junction had attracted a large crowd, and this did not disperse at the close of his discourse but remained shouting "Sadu.” The next step was stone-pelting at the doors of Moor boutiques, followed by attacks with beams.

6. It was dark, but I went into the street and endeavoured to stop the dis- turbance. A very ugly crowd had gathered. They retreated whenever the police and myself made a rush, but threw stones from several dark alleys, while many boutiques were being attacked simultaneously; and with only thirteen constables I was unable to do anything. Police Sergeant Ally received a bad blow on the head at this stage. The brother of the Ratemahatmaya of Udapalata, Mr. Edmund Keppitipola. was also wounded with a club in protecting me, and I was struck by numerous stones and had to beat a retreat to my bungalow under a shower of missiles. 7. I sent at once a telegram to the Superintendent of Police, Kandy, and also to you, stating that serious riots were in progress and demanding immediate assist- ance, and at 9.50 received a reply from you that police and military were coming.

Going to the police station, I found that all but four constables were missing, and with this small force I was absolutely powerless to intervene and sat down to wait till help arrived.

8. The only object of attack was Mohammedan boutiques. Chetties and Sinhalese and Tamils stood safely outside their boutiques and watched whilst their less fortunate neighbours' goods were thrown out and placed on the nearest fire. Bonfires were raging in every street, and the mosque then became the centre of attack. The Moors defended this with gunfire. No deaths appeared to have occurred. Nevertheless, the place was almost gutted.

9. By 11.0 the contents of Ahamed Saibo's boutique, the principal one, had been consumed, and the crowd was less excited. By that time I was despairing of reinforcements, and found that eight constables and the Court Sergeant were available, and, arming myself with loaded rifles and a bayonet. I marched this force through the street. Those still attacking the mosque dispersed on seeing the police, without a shot being fired, thinking that the military were approaching, and small

* 27182, not printed.