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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

TICO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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(/) The use of seditious expressions, to which Mr. de Glanville refers in para- graph 9 of his report, was not testified to once by the witnesses of the riots in the Kuruwiti and Kukul Korales. The absence of such expressions, which, if uttered, would not have escaped the notice of the Moors, is somewhat remarkable in view of the evidence of their use in other riot areas. The fact, however, of their use is a sure indication of the work of preparation to which I have already alluded. Possibly the people in Kuruwiti Korale living near the maritime provinces, and often coming in close contact with the men of low country, were more tractable than the Kandyans south of the town. The type of Kandyan to be found in Kuruwiti Korale is infinitely inferior in caste and manners to the Kandyan in other Korales.

(9) It has been stated that the origin of the disturbances, so far as the general crowd of villagers is concerned, was the spreading of a rumour that the Moors were going to attack the temple (vide page 1, paragraph (c), of the Kegalle report). I have myself grave doubts as to the correctness of the statement. It was certainly not my experience in the Kegalle District, where I was constantly moving about for the first three days of the riots, and it has certainly not proved to be the case in Ratnapura. It is true villagers did assemble on the strength of this rumour, but such rumours were never spread till after the looting was over, and was usually an excuse to the villagers for arming themselves with the object of completing the looting of a village where it was not complete (as at Rambukkana on the occasion of the second riot) or of making a raid, if the opportunity occurred, on a place not yet looted (as at Ratnapura). agree with the view that the Kandyan villager was more or less a tool in the hands of mischief-makers, but that they were fully cognizant of the object of the disturbances I have no manner of doubt.

15. To sum up: The disturbances in the Ratnapura District were not the result of any local conspiracy, but must be attributed to the machinations of men from the low country who were either members or agents of an organization having its centre in Colombo. These men, with the aid of low-country persons settled or having temporary occupations in the district, and by the distribution of pamphlets and newspapers, prepared the minds of the people for the event, first by inflaming their passions against the Moors and then by introducing the religious element. When the critical day arrived they had little difficulty in inducing them to follow the examples already set in Kandy and Colombo. Without some such organization from outside, and in view specially of the peaceful relations that formerly existed in this district between these two people, the Kandyan villager of the Ratnapura District would never voluntarily engage in any such widespread conspiracy. He is the last man in the world to run riot and loot of his own free will, and that he is fully repentant of his folly is clear from the unquestioning readiness with which he agreed to pay compensation and the promptness with which, where money was available, the compensation was paid.

16. The Scope of the Riots.-The rioting was directed entirely against the property of the Moors. No case has been reported in which the property or person of Europeans, Sinhalese, or other nationalities were attacked. For the most part, too, the mob confined themselves to looting. Very few boutiques or houses were damaged or destroyed by fire, and where arson or serious damage was committed it was invariably due to the presence of the low-country element in the crowd. In the Kuruwiti Korale, which adjoins the maritime districts, the worst damage was done at Beville, near Parakaduwa, where two boutiques were dynamited and consider ably damaged. In these riots the mob was led by low-country men, 'who had command over a large gang of Matara coolies working on a new road. Again, at Gonapitiya, near Kuruwita, low-country Sinhalese led the mob and set fire to a house, being actuated thereto more by the disappointment of being foiled in the intended looting at Kuruwita-a fairly large Moor bazaar-than by personal feelings against this particular Moorman. Mosques in the actual rioting areas were invariably attacked: but of the six mosques only two have been so seriously damaged as to necessitate rebuilding.

17. Assaults on persons were extremely rare, and, with the exception of two rape cases, were of the most trivial character. There were a few complaints of highway robberies, but, in the absence of corroborative evidence, it was difficult to ascertain the truth of the complaint. Though the rioting was, with rare exceptions, free from acts of personal violence, and though comparatively few houses and boutiques, even when they were owned by the Moors, were damaged, the looting, wherever it took place, was systematically carried out, the rioters generally breaking

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the furniture of the shops and houses and removing the entire goods. A noticeable feature in the rioting was the absence of firearms. Only at Beville, where the low- country element was particularly strong, were firearms used, and in this riot the Bengali whose shop was attacked fired his gun in self-defence and injured two or three persons, of whom one subsequently died. No Moor in this district was injured by shooting or murdered.

18. I annex a statement showing the nature and extent of the damage, etc., in the Ratnapura District.

19. The Casualties. The casualties during the period of the actual rioting were twelve killed and eight injured. Of the persons killed eight met their death in the Kahawatte riots and three in the rioting at Talawitiya. On both occasions a party of armed Europeans fired on the crowd in the act of rioting and looting. No Moormen were shot or killed.

20. The Conduct of the Headmen. The implication of the minor headmen in the riots, though not supported by reliable evidence, is practically certain; for, though there is no evidence to prove he took part in any conspiracy, it is certain that he had full knowledge of the pending trouble and failed to exert his influence in order to prevent the people of his wasama from taking an active part in the looting. In one case there is evidence of an attempt on the part of a village Arachchi to stop the riots and to drive the people back to their houses; and in another case the Arachchi warned the Moors and assisted them to remove their goods. In the Kendangomuwa riots several headmen were charged as ringleaders. but the evidence of the Moors was so unsatisfactory and belated that it was found impossible to take the case before a Court. The Kandyan headman being almost invariably a man who can exercise great influence with the villagers, his failure to do so on this occasion shows he acquiesced in the movement.

21. The following statement shows the number of headmen charged and the result of the cases against them :---

Number tried by Court Martial.

1

Office.

Number Number Number Charged. Convicted.

Acquitted.

Arachchis

11

2

Ex-Arachchi

1

Inquirer into Crimes Korales

1

Total...

13

3

10

2

Number Number Convicted. Acquitted.

1

1

2

22. As regards the chief headmen there was no evidence, documentary or other- wise, proving that they instigated the riots or took an active part in them. Whether they had any previous knowledge of the state of things it has not been possible to ascertain. About a fortnight after the commencement of the disturbances, when it became known that the intention of Government was to prosecute only the ring- leaders, Moorish evidence of extremely doubtful character implicated some of the chief headmen, but the bad character of witnesses and the absence of any docu- mentary proof made it impossible to accept it. In point of fact, when the situation was realized, the chief headmen, especially of Nawadun, Atakalan, and Meda Korales, behaved with commendable promptness and gave every possible assistance. At the same time I find it difficult to believe that persons holding the important office of Ratemahatmaya should have been totally ignorant of facts which were obviously common knowledge with all the villagers and minor headmen,

23. Work of Commissioners.—In addition to myself, Mr. B. G. de Glanville was appointed Special Commissioner to inquire into the riots in the Ratnapura District. Mr. Burden and Mr. Forest were appointed for the Kegalle District. I assigned to Mr. de Glanville the Nawadun. Atakalan, and Meda Korales, and con- fined my own operations to the Kuruwiti and Kukul Korales and to two wasamas in three Korales of the Kegalle District which immediately adjoin Kendangomuwa and were more conveniently dealt with by me.

24. Assessment and Compensation of Damages.—The work of assessment and of levying indemnity for the various wasamas which participated in the riots met with remarkable success. There was no difficulty in assessing the damages, and the compensation finally awarded, though based, like the Moors' claims, largely on guess-