137
266
work, was, with a very few exceptions, readily accepted by the Moors as sufficient and adequate. In every wasama condemned to pay an indemnity the villagers accepted the decision of the Commissioners without question. In Mr. de Glanville's area the indemnity of each wasama was paid up in full within a week or ten days. In the area which I assigned to myself, though the people expressed a willingness to pay, and did pay in all cases, half or two-thirds of the suma demanded, recourse was had to the execution of bonds merely because the people were unable to raise the money to complete the payments. The explanation of this difference between the two areas is to be found in the fact that the war in Europe has seriously affected the gemming industry, on which the people of Kuruwiti so largely depend, for in other parts of this Korale, where plumbago mining is the chief industry, the villagers paid up the indemnity in full. Most of these bonds will be discharged before the end of the year.
25. Mr. de Glanville completed the work in his area on 1st August. In the district allotted to myself the assessment of damage and the execution of bonds were completed on 11th August.
26. The total amount of assessed damages in the Ratnapura district (excluding Patberiya wasama, in Kegalle District) is Rs.140,673.47. Inclusive of Patberiya wasama the damage amounts to Rs. 148,600. This sum does not include the cost of quelling the disturbances and the cost of the Commission, which will probably amount to Rs.40,000. The amount of indemnity demanded is Rs.208,450.20, and out of this a sum of Rs.168,888.49 was paid before the execution of the bonds. Bonds were taken for Re:39,231.71, and of this amount the sum of Rs.12,429.56 has been paid up to the end of August.
27. Results of Judicial Inquiries.—The Special Commissioner, being invested with full judicial powers, held inquiries on the spot. In view of the conditions on which the indemnity was demanded only the ringleaders were proceeded against, the ordinary looter and rioter having been granted a pardon wherever the village agreed to pay the compensation.
28. The following is a statement of the persons dealt with judicially in con- nexion with the riots in the Ratnapura District and the Patberiya and Mahara wasamas of three Korales in the Kegalle District :——
•
(a) Offence.
Rioting
Looting
Possessing stolen property
Arson ..
Convictions. Acquittals.
43
69
1
11
10
4
3
10
57
94
Number
Number
257
30. Remarks on the letter from the Honourable Mr. Abdul Rahiman.-
富家
There was no campaign of frightfulness" in the Ratnapura District. It is true the looting, where it took place, was thorough and systematic, but, with the exception of two rape cases, in which the accused were sentenced by the court martial to long terms of penal servitude, there was generally a noticeable absence of personal violence. The extent of organization, which appears to be a marked feature in the maritime provinces, was practically absent in this district. As regards the mode of assessment to which the honourable member demurs, the method employed was admittedly a rough and ready one, but its success is proved by the fact that, in practically every case, the Moorman accepted the compensation offered. Unfor- tunately, the Moorman in every case made most extravagant claims, and this fact added considerably to the difficulties of the Commissioner. With regard to the mosques, I put the proposals before the Moors, but in no case did they consider a new cement floor necessary. I may state that it was only in respect of mosques that the Moors made reasonable claims for compensation, and that, though I offered additional compensation for the pollution of the building, they refused to accept it. So far as the local disturbances were concerned I have at present no reason to believe it was political in intention. The use of the seditious expressions referred to by Mr. de Glanville was confined apparently to localities where the low-country element predominated amongst the rioters. Where the mob consisted entirely of villagers there is no evidence of the use of such expressions. Even in the localities where these expressions were used I attach no local importance to them.
R. N. THAINE,
8th September, 1915.
Government Agent, Sabaragamuwa.
(b) Number of persons committed
to the court martial.
17
(c) Number of persons who appealed.
17
Convicted. Acquitted.
15
Number
whose appeals
were dimissed.
15
2
Number acquitted in
appeal
2
29. In conclusion, I have to state that the Moors whose property was damaged have in almost every case been paid compensation or given "orders' for restocking their boutiques, and that, except where damaged buildings have to be rebuilt, they have resumed trading. Judging from the appearance of the boutiques which have been inspected after the payment of compensation, the Moors seem to be in as flour- ishing a condition as they were before the riots. Another point to notice is that the relations between the Sinhalese and Moors, in spite of the disturbances, appear to have undergone no change, either within or outside the riot areas. The Sin- halese patronize the Moor boutiques in as great a number as before, and, in fact, find that their presence as a community is essential for purposes of trade. Lastly, I would state that, since the 6th June, when the riots ceased in this district, no dis- turbances have occurred and no reports of friction between the two races have been received up to date from any part of the district.
8
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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