CO882-10 — Page 178

178

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TUIT!

Reference :-

C.O.

882/10

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

338

that there should be Europeans, Moors, Indian Tamils, Chetties, Bombay merchants, Cochina, Borahs, Paravahs, Afghans, etc. It is the policy of the Buddhist agita- tors to refer to all such as aliens and "foreigners," and frequently in disparag ing terms. Constant reference in these terms to other classes of the King's subjects cannot but have the effect of exciting feelings of ill-will and hostility between Buddhists and other classes, and such doctrines, preached by persons who have a great deal to do with the management of Buddhist schools, cannot but in the end have disastrous effect.

Apart from what is preached and spoken, it does not appear that some of these leaders are in other ways fit to have the management of schools and the guidance of the young.

As the manager of Buddhist schools C. Batuwantudawa receives from the Director of Education all grants due to Buddhist schools under the auspices of the Theosophical Society. These he banks in the Bank of Madras in a fund styled the "Buddhist School Fund Account." Charles Batuwantudawa signs all cheques as "Manager of Buddhist Schools." The Theosophical Society state that his position as manager is purely honorary-he receives no salary. In the course of searches made in connexion with the recent disturbances I have found many letters from teachers of Buddhist schools complaining that they have not been paid for five or six months; others complain of cheques issued being "referred to drawer," a common occurrence apparently, as in three months, on twenty occa- sions, cheques issued by Batuwantudawa on this account were “referred to drawer." I also found a letter from the Theosophical Society to Batuwantudawa calling upon him to produce a sum of Rs.9,000 on Buddhist school account which had not been accounted for. Examination of the account shows that it is in a hopeless state of confusion. Batuwantudawa, when pressed by his creditors, appears to issue cheques on his private account from Buddhist school funds, for example:-

•

22nd August, 1914. Rs.169.15, to Darley, Butler & Company, payment of

premium on a private life policy.

15th April, 1915. Rs.162.50, to the same firm for the same purpose. 21st September, 1914. Rs.1,000, to A. L. L. de Jong, to be placed to the credit of Batuwantudawa's private account for hire of cars and share of ownership of three motor-cara.

15th September, 1914. Rs.103.56, to Shanghai Life Insurance Company, to

payment of two premia on life insurance.

19th September, 1914. Rs.1,000, to D. F. de Silva, on account of jewellery

supplied (the bill at one time amounted to Rs.14,000).

23rd September, 1914. Rs.65.60, to Boustead Brothers, for current supplied

from April to August, 1914, to Batuwantudawa's private house.

7th November, 1914. Rs.235, to Topunsing Mootoomul, for a silk saree for

Mrs. C. Batuwantudawa.

12th December, 1914. Rs.542.50, to the P. & O. Company, part payment of passage for Mr. F. E. Weerasuriya (brother-in-law-not connected with Buddhist schools).

9th April, 1915. Rs.100, to N. L. S. A. Muttiah Chetty, for interest due

on money borrowed.

8th June, 1915. Rs.100, to the Ceylon Taxi Company, payment of hire on

a taxi to take Batuwantudawa to Kuliyapitiya Police Court and back. From inquiry made it would appear that Batuwantudawa is in the hands of the chetties, and it is interesting to note that, while Batuwantudawa at present owes D. F. de Silva & Company Rs.1,635. Muttiah Chetty holds jewellery as security for the loan to Batuwantudawa.

There appear to be payments into the fund by Batuwantudawa, but whether these amount to the sums he has drawn on his own account it is difficult to say. as he frequently drew large sums in cash to pay teachers. The fact remains that teachers have not been paid for five or six months, and a sum of Rs.9,000 is, accord- ing to the Theosophical Society's books, still to be accounted for.

Batuwantudawa has, I understand, been given seven days with effect from his release on bail to explain these accounts. Whatever his explanation may be. the system in force is far from satisfactory, and the manner in which Government funds are handled by one responsible for the education of the young is not impressive.

I may say that a similar state of affairs is to be found in the case of the Workmen's Provident Union. The railway workmen contribute to this fund

330

nominally for help in times of sickness and distress; the balance in hand to-day is Rs.32.50. There again Batuwantudawa controls the funds and signs cheques. Examination of the account shows that :--

On 4th January, 1915, Rs.65 was paid to Tarrant & Company for premium

due on a private insurance policy.

On 5th January, 1915, Rs.105 to the Shanghai Life Insurance Company,

premiums on two private policies.

1st February, 1915,” Rs.162.50,′ to Darley, Butler & Company, insurance

premium, private.

It would appear from the result of my investigations that

(a) The management of Buddhist schools is largely in the hands of undesir

able persons.

(b) Politics of a vicious type are preached and written by persons directly

connected with Buddhist schools.

(c) Persons concerned with the management of Buddhist schools are con-

nected with undesirable associations.

(d) Politics of the type mentioned above find a place in Buddhist school

magazines.

(6) Buddhist school buildings are frequently made use of for political meet- ings, in the course of which Government and other religious bodies are attacked, e.g., the Ananda College, the Dharmarajah College.

(f) The education imparted does not appear to encourage affection towards the British Empire; on the contrary, a doctrine of Buddhists versus the "foreigner" is encouraged, in which the "

** includes all foreigner classes of the King's subjects in Ceylon who do not happen to be Buddhists and Sinhalese.

The manipulation of Government grants appears to need supervision. The general" tone" resulting from the above cannot be healthy.

As the Government has a direct hold on Buddhist schools by the payment of grants, the present may afford a suitable opportunity for checking the unwhole- some influence being exercised through Buddhist schools on the younger generation.

H. L. DOWBIGGIN, Inspector-General of Police.

6th August, 1915.

54611

No. 72.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 26th November, 1915.)

(No. 720.)

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, SIR,

4th November, 1915. I HAVE the honour to forward, for your information, a copy of a petition addressed to me by two villagers of Paranagama, in the Colombo district, regarding a society which had been established in that village with the avowed object of giving pecuniary assistance to its members in time of need. I also enclose a copy of a report on the petition by the Inspector-General of Police, to whom I caused the petition to be referred for inquiry.

I have, &c.,

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 72.

TO SIR ROBERT CHALMERS, K.C.B., GOVERNor and Commander-in-Chief IN AND OVER THE ISLAND OF CEYLON AND ITS Dependencies thEREOF, &C., &c., &c.,

COLOMBO.

The humble petition of HORATEL Pedige Jambuwa and WIJESINPEdige Babaya, both of Paranagama in the Udagaha Pattu of Siyane Korle.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

1. THE petitioners beg leave to inform Your Excellency that the individuals named Karunapedige Balaya, Police Duraya, as President, Pullibodapedige Bandua,