CO882-10 — Page 52

54

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.

882/10

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

8. Walgama

5. Dompe

10. Evidence against a

90

in the village and not on the list. Searched several houses and found large quanti- ties of loot Summary trials, resulting in a good few convictions. To Dompe Camp. 10th June. Proceeded to Walgama, recorded evidence and assessed damages. Asked District Engineers to start work of repair. Damages are considerably over Rs. 100,000

11th June. Had up people of Dompe. The Moors pointed out a large number of rioters, some of whom were tried. The Colonial Secretary visited the camp, and says the damages and costs are to be recovered as a punitive rate.

12th June. In camp, recorded evidence against a leading rioter of Biyagama, leading rioter made out further instructions for my assistants, and systematized work a little. It

is going to be a big job. Waited for military court martial, which did not arrive.

13th June. Sunday. Motored to Colombo with Mr. Prayne, and consulted General and with the General and the Attorney-General or varions points. Then home to ' bungalow at 6 p.m. and rested, very tired, worn out by exposure and fever.

11. Comsul- tation withi

Attorney. General 12. Be court martial at Weko.

13. Indem- nity bonds.

14. Indemn nity bonda

15. Court martial at

Woke.

16. Court martial at Weke.

17. Interview with General

18. Trial of rioters.

19 Hanwella

30. Avis wolla

21. Indein. nity bond,

14th June. The Attorney-General and I saw the General again this forenoon. Mr. Brayne and I left for camp about 1 p.m., but, owing to punctures, did not reach camp till 5 p.m. Informed prisoners that they will be tried at Weke on Thursday by court martial.

་

15th June. Mr. Brayne busy all day arranging for the attendance of the witnesses before the court martial. Mr. Akbar busy drafting bond for signature of the people of this village, guaranteeing payment of indemnity fixed. I held several inquiries, and recorded the evidence of the Moors regarding the damage done at Kapugoda, Owitigama, Nikawala, Pugoda. Kumarimulla, etc. Later still, tappal.

18th June. The indemnity bond of Dompe was signed to-day. The people of nine other villages also came forward and expressed their willingness to enter into similar bonds. In the afternoon Mr. Brayne and I proceeded to Weke for the court martial, and got our prisoners, guard, and belongings through the inundated road just in time.

17th June. At Weke. Court martial sat from 10 till 2 p.m. and from 3 till 5 p.m.

18th June. At Weke. Court martial continued and concluded. I withdrew In none of the cases tried were any of the accused acquitted. Returned to Dompe Camp. Dealt with heavy tappal and examined Sub-Inspector of Police. Pugoda:

one case.

19th June-At Dompe Camp. In morning engaged with Mr. Brayne for over two hours sorting tappal, mostly claims. Some indemnity bonds were signed. In evening to Colombo.

20th June. Sunday. Interview with General Malcolm about courts martial. 21st June.--Left for Dompe at noon from the Kachcheri, after seeing Mr. Fox. Found good progress being made with indemnity bonds.

22nd June-Tried seven rioters as Additional District Judge. Acquitted one (doubtful case), gave the other six two years each. To Hanwella in the evening Mr. Willett has gone to Siyane Korale West, Mr. Izat to Siyane Korale East, and Mr. Moore to Alut Kuru Korale North and Hapitigam Korale.

23rd June. Searched house of Kaluaggala, vidane Arachchi, in morning, and later Habarakada Pansala; found nothing of interest. Assessed damages in Han- wella Ihala. Addressed villagers of Hanwella Thala and Pahala regarding the payment of an indemnity. Tappal.

24th June. In morning proceeded to Avisawella as a witness in some riot cases. Convictions in two were obtained, the other was postponed. Back to Hanwella; inspected the little damage done at Avisawella and the considerable damage done at Kosgama on the way. Addressed the people of three more villages. Recorded evidence regarding the riots at Hanwella till 8 p.m.

25th June-Sorted papers in morning. Claims are pouring in, and have to be divided up amongst the various Special Commissioners. The people of Pahala, Hanwella Hanpita, and Atigala appeared ready to enter into indemnity bonds, and work on these went on until a late hour. I also recorded some important evidence as to the movements of some suspects of note. In the course of the afternoon I ran up to Padukka to see the road work going on there.

26th June. Recorded evidence of rioting against two Moors who led the mob in the attack on Nurani Estate. Bonds of Henpita and Atigala were signed and good progress made with the preparation of others. To Colombo in evening.

91

27th June. Sunday. Interviews with His Excellency the Governor and the $2. Interview General Commanding.

with His Ex- cellency the

*the General.

28th June. In morning to Hanwella. Completed case against the two Moors: Governor and it is now ready for court martial. Searched school and found minutes of the Han- 23. Hanwella wella Samagama, which apparently was the centre of the movement here.

nity bonds.

29th June. At Hanwella, recording evidence and preparing indemnity bonds. 24. Inde 30th June. In forenoon started staff on the preparation of bonds, and left for Bandarawela later.

J. G. FRASER, Government Agent, Western Province,

and Special Commissioner.

Enclosure 2 in No. 44.

rice.

DIARY OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENT, UVA, FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, 1915.

TUESDAY, 1ST.-Mr. Adamthwaite sees me about various matters, especially 1: Thef of about a case of extensive theft of rice which the planter chiefly concerned wishes not to go to Court, but which Mr. Adamthwaite contends should go to Court in the interests of the public. I agree with him, and will have the case taken up by the police.

Mr. Hall, of Glenanore, sees me regarding acquisition of land for the railway. 2 Land ac Land sale.

quisition.

tions.

On receipt of a telegram from Government I communicate with an Unofficial. Precau- Police Magistrate or some planter close to each town throughout the province, and send word to the Chairman, Badulla Planters' Association; and to Colonel Dickson, Ceylon Mounted Rifles; Captain Carson. Ceylon Light Infantry; and Captain Hall, Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps. I send for Mr. Kotalawela, who promises to do every- thing in his power to keep the Province quiet and to keep in touch with me.

Ι

In the evening Mr. Gatehouse, Mr. Carson, and Colonel Dickson arrive. arrange that all members of the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps, and Ceylon Light Infantry shall be warned for instant mobilization, but that they shall not be actually mobilized at Badulla for the present. As regards Badulla, I am sure enough of my ground to be certain that if there is trouble which I trust there will not be that there will be some hours' notice. As to Bandarawela, I do not know what the situation is, and I arrange with Colonel Dickson that the Ceylon Mounted Rifles shall have a parade there to-morrow.

movement,

at Badulla.

My belief is that the Uva villager is still too unspoilt to join any seditious

Wednesday, 2nd.-Discuss the local situation with Mr. Don Pabilis Appuhamy. 4. Situation He is most emphatic that no disorder "will be allowed" in Badulla. I feel pretty confident that he and Mr. Kotalawela between them can deal with the Badulla bazaar. And I am quite certain that from them I should get notice if there is any danger of disorder here.

Land sale.

To Dickwella, where some disorder has been reported: this turns out to be as To Dick- quarrel between Sinhalese Goigama people and Karawas quite a relief to find. we Then went on to Bandarawela and to Diyatalawa, where I saw Lieutenant Scott of Diyat the Punjabis. He agrees to keep fifty men ready and to send them either at my request or that of Mr. Hyde, Haputale.

alawa

Returned to Bandarawela, where I met Messrs. Hyde, of Haputale, Nelson, of 7. At Bandar- Welimada, and Ambler, of Bandarawela, and settled matters with each of them. Awals. Consult the Sub-Inspector of Police and the Ratemahatmaya. It is quite clear that at the present moment Bandarawela is peaceful. I shall not, therefore, detain the Ceylon Mounted Rifles. But there is danger ahead in the Dowa perahera, which is fixed to pass through Bandarawela on the 6th instant at night. I tell the Ratema- hatmaya that I forbid it to pass at night; either it must pass through by day or it must not go through Bandarawela.

With the Ratemahatmaya and the Sub-Inspector of Police go through the bazaar and warn the low-country Sinhalese.

Arrange with Colonel Dickson that the Ceylon Mounted Rifles shall reassemble at Bandarawela on the 6th instant.

Returned to Badulla.