CO882-10 — Page 120

CO882 & CO885 Colonial Office Confidential Prints 理藩院機密印刊 All

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Re-examined: I am 59 years old

Examined My occupation is cultivation.

I have some lands. I work for others also. My lands are in the village; I have some in other villages also. I did not hear of any rioting.

Janis Mahatmaya, affd.

I am the fourteenth accused. I did not take any part in the riots at Goda- pitiya : was not at Godapitiya. It is not true that I set fire to Abdul Rahiman's timber. On the day of the riots at Godapitiya I was at Uduweke, in the Morawak korle, about twenty-four miles from Godapitiya. I went to Uduweke on the 4th- went to a wedding house. When I went to Uduweke I took some coco-nuts for sale with another partner. I returned on the 6th, evening. I met the Inspector of Police near my house. I took the coco-nuts in Appu Sinho's cart.

Cross-examined: I was in Uduweke on the 4th, and on the 4th I left Morawak korle for I'duweke. On the 5th I went to Morawak korle went there to sell coco- nuts. Sold the coco-nuts at Uduweke. The wedding was on the 3rd, the feast was on the 2nd I was there about two hours. I left and came to my sister. If I left the werfding house that day I can get to Godapitiya that day. I remember the day I was arrested, on the 1st of July. The same day I was sent to Matara jail. Appu Sinno and the other witnesses knew that I was involved in this case after I was arrested.

Re-examined: From Godapitiya I went to Morawak korle, that is twelve miles on the old road and fifteen on the new. I enjoyed the wedding feast on the 2nd on the 3rd I visited the wedding house; on the 4th I was at Uduweke. Uduweke is twenty-four miles from Godapitiya. I came back on the 6th. evening to Goda- pitiva. I did not know that I was implicated.

Cross-examined by Mr. Barber: Heentrige Kanda Appuhamy was at the wedding house.

Appu Sinn», affd.

I am a man of Honduwa. Know Janis Mahatmaya. I hired him my cart to Coco-nuts are scarce at I drove the cart. myself. take coco-nuts to Uduweke. Morawak korle. The fourteenth accused did not go with me; I preceded him. I went on the 29th of May this year. I went to Uduweke along with two boys. The On the 4th, after taking our fourteenth accused came to Uduweke on the 4th. midday meal, we started for Morawak korle. We went to Kotegoda for the night. We reached the village on the 5th, night. On the 4th, night, after dinner, we left Gotapola. On the 5th, morning, we stopped at Morak korle; then we took breakfast, and came to the village that night about 9 o'clock.

Cross-examined: I cannot remember whether I came to the village on the 6th. I got no summons. I hire my cart regularly. I cannot remember to whom I hired my cart on the 4th of July. I told the police vidane of Morawak korle that I met the fourteenth accused at Uduweke on the 4th. I heard that he had been arrested after the 13th June.

Re-examined: On the 4th of July there was no riot at Godapitiys. On the 4th I have reason to remember of June there was; that was an uncommon occurrence.

the incident of the 4th June. I know that the fourteenth accused was with me at Uduweke.

Don Arnolis, affd.

I am the police officer of Wellewe. I know the fourteenth accused, Janis Mahatmaya. saw him at Morawak on the 5th of June; he had been to Uduweke, and had returned with Appu Sinno in a cart.

('ross-examined: I saw him in the morning, about 6.0 o'clock. I spoke to him. I got summons yesterday. The distance between Godapitiya and Morawak is about twelve or fifteen miles. If a man leaves Godapitiya on the evening of the 4th he can easily get to Morawak on the evening of the 5th.

Cross-examined by Court: I was not present at the riots at Godapitiya. Siriwardene, affd.

I am the Vidane Arachchi of Morawaka. Know the fourteenth acoused, Janis Mahatmaya I saw him at Morawaka in the early part of June. On the 2nd I saw him at a wedding house. I did not see him afterwards.

Cross-examined: I know the witness Appusiano. Eight or ten days after I saw the fourteenth accused at Morawaka, Appusinno said that Janis is implicated.

He is

I understood that he had been made an accused. I knew him as a carter. living in Godapitiya. I had no idea that the fourteenth accused had been impli- cated. I heard nothing about the arrest.

Re-examined Carters usually stop near my house, and it was carters' gossip. The accused 1, 2, 6, 9, 11, and 17 are informed of their right to give evidence on their behalf, or they can make a statement. The first accused states

I am a very poor man, and am not capable of going to a disturbance like this. I have no witnesses. I know nothing about this. I was in my house on that day.

The second accused states:

My village is at Matara. I have got boutique at Akuressa, and live there. I am a man of a different caste. I am a very poor man.

There is no reason why I should go to a disturbance like this.

The sixth accused states:

I am a very poor man. I was only making tiles. disturbance. I have got my witnesses.

The ninth accused states:

I know nothing about this

I

I am loyal to His Majesty the King, and in his name I make the following statement: I am a poor man. I am employed on a tea estate, and get fifty cents a day at Akuressa. I am a kangany there. On the 4th, morning, I had finished a contract, and I went to get payment. Then I went to Heenegama estate to my master. My master told me he would pay me Rs.25, and asked me whether I had brought the order. I said: "No." He asked me to bring it. came back to Akuressa estate; that was about 10.30 or 11.0 a.m. I went again to Heenegama, taking the order with me. My master then paid me Rs.25; the clerk signed it. I came back to Akuressa estate. I took my midday meal at about 12.30. From there I came to my village. On my way I saw two hackeries being broken by I saw a crowd at the Akuressa boutiques. some people; I know some of the men.

I told them I People who knew me called me to go to Goda pitiva for the riots. could not, as I had money in my possession that was money to be paid to the women. I stayed behind. The crowd went with guns. I returned home. I saw the Inspector at Godapitiya at 4.0 o'clock. I have got my witnesses.

The eleventh accused states:

I am a man trading in Government boutiques. On that day I had opened the boutiques and was selling things. I am a man who has been fed by the Moors from my boyhood; I would never go to harm them. I have got two witnesses to prove that I was at the boutique.

The seventeenth accused states:

I was on that day in my house suffering with parangi disease in my leg. I am

a poor man, and not one who will go to disturbances. I have no witnesses.

The sixth accused calls his evidence:-

Palanipatrige Appu, affd.

I am 55 years old. Am a cultivator; cultivate fields for others. Live at Kaha- talagama. On the 4th June the sixth accused made tiles, and he was there in the evening removing tiles.

Cross-examined by Court: The sixth accused is a tile-maker as well as a culti- vator; makes tiles for sale; the land where he makes tiles is at Kanagahagama. I live this side of the field and he lives across it. Know sixth accused well. I saw him at different times on the 4th June-saw him in the morning, about 6.0 o'clock; a little after noon he was cutting tiles: in the evening, one hour before dark, he was collecting tiles; saw him cut tiles before he had his midday meat. Kanagahagama is about two miles from Godapitiya.

Cross-examined by Mr. Barber: Panadugama is a village close by. Panadu gama and Kanagahagama are’about a quarter of a mile from each other.

Cross-examined by the accused: Panadugama and Kanagahagama adjoin each other. Four persons are cutting tiles in partnership. I cannot remember the day on which the riots took place. I saw the accused that day, because he was cutting tiles. He cute tiles every day.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

I, KIKET

Reference :--

C.O.

882 /10

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON228

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