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PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC.

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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found in Colombo referred to there "being considerable excitement up country through a rumour to the effect that the headmen were taking the names of all males between the ages of 18 and 45," it is clear that there were grounds for the

excitement.'

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At this monster meeting" at Mirigama, amongst the speakers was P. Sirisena, the person who published the article in the Sinhala Jatiya. It is noteworthy that F. H. Dias Bandaranaike was elected president for the year; this individual (an outcast from the family bearing this name) has a particularly bad past, and is very closely concerned with the disturbances which occurred in the Mirigama District, as also all the Senanayakes, the main supporters and founders of the Hapitigam Temperance Association. As this association was the biggest and strongest of all the provincial associations I have quoted from its proceedings at some length to give an idea of the effect of such associations in time of disturbance. The ring leaders are found in the principal office-bearers.

mention that in this district may rioters came from the estates owned by F. H. Dias Bandaranaike and the Senana- yakes, and that dynamite was largely used in the district in blowing up mosques.

14. Tracing the line of the recent disturbances we find in every centre the insti- gator to be a leading light of the local "Samagama" societies, or associations, a strong Buddhist, frequent at meetings and on platforms, generally a man of consider- able means, with a command of labour and a hold over the people, very frequently a disciple of Dharmapala's, who undoubtedly is principally responsible for starting and first preaching the doctrine of removal of the foreigner." Dharmapala's articles by no means require the removal of the coast Moor only; with them are It is classed all other persons but the Sinhalese Buddhist and the local Hindu. particularly noticeable that the principal persons of "action" are nearly in every case people who were never heard of twenty years ago. They have acquired wealth, don't know how to spend it, and their one idea is notoriety and a desire to be considered a "léader.'

As long as there is " money "behind them the mob follows

them. Take for instance the case of :-

Kandy.-L. B. Ratnayake, an unscrupulous contractor of considerable means and an employer of labour. A leading Buddhist and temperance advocate, and closely in touch with Dharmapala.

Rambukkana.-P. H. Abram de Silva, closely in touch with the Maha Bodhi, Buddhist, and temperance societies. A great agitator from the low-country.

Ambepussa. The Senanayakes, described above. Large owners of estates, plumbago pits, etc., and of great wealth.

Mirigama.-F. H. Dias Bandaranaike, described above.

Veyangoda.-A. P. Gunatilleke. Wealthy, local influence, and of no family. Colombo.-Pedris, Wijesekeras, Hewawitarnes, Senanayakes again, and, of course, the well-known speakers and newspaper writers to the Sinhala Jatiya, etc., etc. The latter supply the "gas," the three above named supply the money and the men. It is noteworthy that the Pedrises and Wijesekeras are "Hakkuru

caste men who have made money in trade and don't know how to spend it. Such persons are quickly seized upon by the "talkers" and used in the same way that Dr. W. A. de Silva, the former Municipal Veterinary Surgeon, who married money, was at once asked on every platform.

Galle-Amarasuriya.

Matara. It is curious that rioting in the Matara District followed the line of the Hewawitarne estates and interests, and that Dr. C. A. Hewawitarne was in the district shortly before the riots.

15. There are many lessons to be learnt from the above, but I venture to state the principal are:-

(a) The danger of uncontrolled " societies" in the East.

(b) The danger of great wealth in the hands of persons with no traditions, family history, etc., who have made money easily and quickly, pay nothing for it, and expect everything for nothing.

(c) The danger of too much money all over the country, easily made and readily obtainable for any appeal, demonstration, public meeting, agita-

tion, etc.

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(d) The danger of the prevalence of a general idea that money buys every- thing" in a country where subordinate officials are naturally greatly impressed with such an idea.

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(e) Great wealth finds its outlet in motor-cars, processions with elephants at temperance meetings, and a general display of wealth and the frequent presence of agitators in a province as compared with the very much less frequent and less imposing visit of the Government Agent. The result is the cry which has been frequently raised in connexion with these recent disturbances The Western Province belongs to the Sinhalese"- "There is no more British Government "—" There is no more British flag"-" The Sinhalese Nation "—" You will not be punished."

16. Compare the very rare visit of a Government Agent, tied to his head- quarters by papers, meetings, etc., to the frequent visits of the idle and rich agitators with motor-cars and elephants to the most remote parts of the provinces, and it is little wonder that the villager becomes impressed with what it is intended should impress him. So long as there is money behind them the latter class will always have a following, and will always be regarded as persons "to-avoid knocking up against" by subordinate officers of Government.

H. L. DOWBIGGIN,

8th July, 1915.

FROM THE

Inspector-General of Police.

"SINHALA JATiya " Issue of 9th March, 1915, PAGE 7, COLUMNS 2 AND 3.

The Moor and the Sinhalese.

We are getting to be much harassed by the Moors. An evidence of that is the late occurrence in Kurunegalle District, when the Moors committed an outrage on a procession which was conducting an image of Buddha and was passing a Moorish school. The Moors not only molested the Buddhists' procession, but flung mud and cow-dung at the image. It is said that they (the Moors) are already preparing to molest the Buddhists even at the Esala (July-August) procession at Kandy. Who are the people giving help to the Moors to harass (us) in this way? If this is carefully considered it will be seen that the Sinhalese himself is the party respon- sible. In any undertaking, great or small, there is no support so powerful as money. A good many of the Moors have taken into their hands various branches of trade in Ceylon, and they have become strong in cash. Their trade is with the Sinhalese. The money in their hands is that of the Sinhalese. Therefore their monied power is one derived from the Sinhalese himself. This monied power of the Moor being (thus) not one acquired from some other source, such as planting, but being derived entirely from trade, it can be said that the life of the Moor is in the hands of the Sinhalese. But, having become wealthy with our own money, and making the living from ourselves, (the Moor) makes our own money a weapon with which to give knocks on our heads. Therefore the time has come for taking speedy measures to stop this sort of thing. We should so act as to bring home the benefits the Moor derives from the Sinhalese. The only way for it is to come to a firm determination, since there are Sinhalese shops and boutiques in all towns, villages, and townlets in Ceylon, not to buy an article worth even a cent from the Sinhalese. The absolute necessity for this should be realized (by all) from the educated. wealthy, influențial leader of society in each district down to the lowest beggar living in the smallest hut. If this is to be carried out to satisfaction, 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 day 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 Moors. 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. Kurunegala, Amblangoda, Alutgama, etc., where Sinhalese traders are plentiful, should get handbills printed showing from cogent reasons the wrongfulness of buying from the Moors, and they should distribute those handbills one each to all men

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