CO882-10 — Page 38

40

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 88210

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

62

Enclosure in No. 35.

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT AND THE RECENT DISTURBANCES.

UNDER the head of "Temperance" and "Total Abstinence" societies were formed and meetings held regularly in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Rambukkana, Miri- gama, Moratuwa, Panadure, and (on a smaller scale) in practically all the villages of the Western Province, and no doubt in many villages of the Kandy District, Kegalle District, North-Western Province, and Southern Province.

2. The "Total Abstinence Central Union" in Colombo sent out delegates to towns and villages in the Province. Two delegates from Colombo generally appeared on the platform with local speakers at the monthly meeting of the "Samagama," as the society was generally called.

3. In every number of the "Buddhist " newspaper will be found a programme of work laid down for the following week. The place and date of meetings, with the names of the delegates, are published. Delegates generally go out on Saturdays and Sundays, and six or seven pairs of delegates go out every week.

.4. These "Samagamas" are practically entirely Buddhist. The persons who presided at meetings in Colombo and went out as delegates to the provinces are prominent members of the "Maha Bodhi" Society, the "Young Men's Buddhist Association," the "Theosophical Society." It is particularly noteworthy that the same persons hold office in the Workmen's Provident Fund Association.

5. In the provinces the president of the local "Samagama" was generally a prominent Buddhist interested in land, plumbago, etc., with a command of money and labour. The secretary was frequently a notary with a house on the main road. The prominent members in Colombo are persons who, as owners of estates, plumbago mines, lawyers, etc., were frequently on the main roads in motor-cars.

On their way they would drop in at the notary's office for a few minutes and hear all the news. In this manner connexion between Colombo and the villages are maintained.

6. At these temperance meetings the speakers gradually got deeper into affairs other than the Excise Ordinance. Started at the time the Excise Ordinance was the main subject of agitation, the meetings were just as regularly held when this Ordinance no longer formed the subject of conversation. The fact is that these speakers took up anything that held the public attention at the moment. The public were first asked to act for the welfare of their "country," country became

nation," and nation became the "Sinhalese nation.'

7. At some centres the meetings were held on a very large scale, obviously with the idea of impressing the local villager with their strength as a body and the fact that their views were held by men of learning, and also (what particularly impressed the native) men of wealth.

8. The reports of nieetings held at Rambukkana, Mirigama, etc., in 1913 show that the speakers were all persons concerned or interested in the recent disturbances. Hulugalle Adigar presided at a meeting at Rambukkana in 1913 at which many persons now under arrest spoke.

"

9. On the 4th May, 1913, a “public meeting of Buddhists was held at the Ananda College, Maradana, to consider what steps should be taken with regard to the recent circular of Government prohibiting headmen from joining and public servants from taking part in local abstinence societies. All who are anxious to promote the welfare of the people, which is threatened, are cordially invited to The conveners of this meeting include C. Bathuwantudawe, W. A. de attend." Silva, A. P. Gunatilaka, W. Harischandra (dead), M. C. Perera, W. H. W. Perera, P. B. Ratnayake, D. R. Wijewardene, Arthur V. Dias, F. H. Dias Bandaranaike, E Hewawitarne, R. A. Mirando (shot), D. D. Pedris, L. B. Ranesinghe, F. R. Senanayake, D. E. Weerasuriya, the editors of the Dinamina, Sandaresa, Sinhala Bauddahya, Hitawadi, Sinhala Jatiya.

Of the thirty-nine persons who signed the notice convening this meeting two are dead and eighteen are under arrest in connexion with the recent disturbances.

The speakers were D. J. Ameratunge, W. A. de Silva, P. B. Ratnayake, C. Batuwantudawa, E. R. Senanayake, L. B. Ranarajah, D. S. Senanayake.

The proceedings were conducted in Sinhalese, and about 2,500 persons were present, including Buddhist priests, two of whom spoke. The Criminal Investiga tion Department officer who attended the meeting reported that "after the meeting several who had attended were seen resorting to the tavern." The meeting was reported in the Press as a "memorable gathering at the Ananda College, public meeting of Buddhists, to protest against the Government temperance circular."

+

63

10. At the Half Yearly General Meeting of the Total Abstinence Central Union, held in Colombo on Saturday, 23rd January, 1915 (Dr. C. A. Hewawitarne in the chair), which was described as a "convention of the various temperance societies all over the Island," 150 Buddhist priests and delegates from the various provincial societies were present. The chairman, in welcoming the delegates, men- tioned that our aim is to get into touch with the whole Buddhist population, and I am pleased to say that we are daily progressing towards our goal; it is pleasing to note that in our campaign we have the support of the Buddhist priesthood. The Buddhist community is duly realizing their responsibilities, and the increasing number of village societies testify to the national awakening slowly spreading throughout Ceylon. With regard to our future, what I have stated shows the trend of our work. It is becoming evident that our Temperance Convention will, in the near future, become our National Convention, and we should all work with that object in view,'

"

The chairman, Dr. C. A. Hewawitarne, was voted to the chair on the proposi- tion of Dr. W. A. de Silva, seconded by Mr. D. B. Jayatilleke. Amongst those who spoke were W. A. de Silva, C. Batuwantudawa, F. R. Senanayake, D. B. Jayatilleke, É. Hewawitarne, D. C. Jayakodi.

11. A very prominent person at all these meetings and a delegate who goes to the provinces more often than any other is the editor of the Sinhala Jatiya news- paper, Piyadasa Sirisena. In an article published in the Sinhala Jatiya paper of the 9th March, copy attached, the Buddhists are told of the trouble experienced at the hands of the Moors, and it is stated "that the time has come for taking speedy measures to stop this sort of thing. The absolute necessity for this should be realized by all, from the educated, wealthy, influential leader of society in each district down to the lowest beggar living in the smallest hut. If this is to be carried out to satis- faction, exertion should be made by the readers of newspapers, by leaders of society, by patriotic young gentlemen, by the priests, by the good men who have established temperance societies for worldly and spiritual good and are working them, and by the noble altruistic men who go from the Central Temperance Union of Colombo to make public speeches in the country districts. Since at the present time there is in all places a class of young men imbued with patriotism, those gentlemen and the speakers visiting country districts from Colombo should explain this matter to the people of the villages, so as to make a strong impression on them. Gentlemen reading newspapers should explain it to others and discuss with them. The priest living in the temple of the village should call the villagers together and explain to them the harm that the Buddhists are receiving from the Moor. All the members of temperance societies should, at their next meeting, awaken the public to a sense of this. Gentlemen engaged in trade in Galle, Matale, Kurunegalle, Ambalangoda, Alutgama, etc., where Sinhalese traders are plentiful, should get handbills printed showing from cogent reasons the wrongfulness of buying from the Moors. If action is taken on these lines not only will the trade, unity, and mutual love of the Sinhalese grow, but a good lesson can be taught to the Moor."

12. This article was also published in the Sinhala Bauddhaya. It is note- worthy that when war broke out and there was a temporary run on the Savings Bank a reassuring notice sent to the newspapers was published in every vernacular news- paper but the Sinhala Jatiya and the Sinhala Bauddhaya. The welfare of the people" with them is never associated with anything connected in any way with Government and authority.

13. At the next big temperance meeting held after this article was published, viz., at Mirigama, under the auspices of the Hapitigam Korale Temperance Society, 10,000 people were present, and a perahera with forty elephants was a part of the proceedings. D. C. Senanayake was in the chair, and amongst those present were F. R. Senanayake, C. Batuwantudawa, D. B. Jayatilleke, Arthur V. Dias, J. E. Jayakoddy, D. S. Senanayake, W. A. de Silva, L. B. Ratnayake, E. Hewawitarne, P. Sirisena, F. H. Dias Bandaranayake.

The report for the period 1913-1915 was read. The report referred to many matters outside temperance and total abstinence, and amongst other things stated that, at a meeting of the Central Committee held on 1st November, to consider what further steps should be taken to strengthen our work, it was resolved to get all the headmen (four vidane Arachchies, fifty-four village headmen) to join the committee, to prepare a list of all the male inhabitants of the Korale; very satisfactory work has already been done in those directions." As one letter from a Buddhist priest