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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

C.O.

882 10

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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8. Badulla

9. Dowa porahers.

10. Welimada

11. Dows perahera

12. Dowa.

13. Bandar awala.

14. Precau tionary

INGRAUZOS.

15. Loonl forces.

16. All quiet

17 To Ba dulia

18. Mappane

19. All quiet at Muppane.

20. Passara

92

Thursday, 3rd.-All is quiet at Badulla. I hear indirectly that Don Pabilis Appuhamy has taken a very strong line on the side of law and order.

A priest of the Dowa temple comes to see me. I can only tell him what I have already told the Ratemahatmaya, that the perahera cannot pass through Bandara- wela at night.

In the evening receive a telegram from Welimada Moor traders that a riot is imminent. Despatch Messrs. Campbell and Maybin and three constables and six Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps men, and telegraph to Mr. Ambler to take the Banda. rawela special constables there, and telegraph to Mr. Nelson that a force is on its way. (Mr Nelson, by the way, went down to the bazaar, where a crowd had col- lected had a chair, a table, and a bottle of beer put in the street, and sat there until the relief force arrived. The crowd had by then dispersed and the bazaar people gone to bed, having been warned by Mr. Nelson that a force was on its way.)

Friday, 4th-The Ratemahatmaya Udukinda comes to see me about the Dowa perabera. He tells me, what I had not understood before, that it was intended to take it through Bandarawela to-morrow night as well as Saturday, and agrees with me that if it does pass through at night there will be trouble.

I arrange with Captain Carson, Ceylon Light Infantry, to take up a detachment of Ceylon Light Infantry to-morrow at midday. I ask Mr. Kotalawela to give the Ratemahatmaya his assistance regarding the perahera.

Saturday, 5th. At noon go to Bandarawela. I stop a few minutes at Dowa on the way. The villagers are obviously perfectly orderly, but there is a sprinkling of low-country men who might not be.

At Bandarawela see the twenty-five Ceylon Light Infantry men billeted in the Court

See Mr. Ambler regarding the special constables, in case they are wanted. About 4 p.m. the Ratemahatmaya and Mr. Kotalawela see me, having arrived from Dowa, and say they have prevailed on the Committee to abandon the perahera altogether, as they had reason to believe that certain persons would make an attempt to take it through Bandarawela if it once started; they ask me to confirm the state- ment they have made to the Committee that there is no intention of permanently stopping the perahera in other years. This I do.

I get all Bandarawela people assembled at the police station a little before six. and warn them (the Ratemahatmaya and Mr. Kotalawela by my side) that if there is any disturbance the Volunteers will fire; I also tell them that Punjabis are ready to come from the camp at once if summoned by telephone. Possibly it was fancy, but I seemed to notice a change of attitude among the people as I spoke. Anyhow, they went away without a word, and with the Ratemahatmaya and the police I had every house in the bazaar shut up in less than a quarter of an hour. I place a police and special constable guard on the street, the Ceylon Light Infantry being ready at the Court if required.

Sunday, 6th.-All was quiet last night.

In the evening eighteen Ĉeylon Mounted Rifles and Colonel Dickson arrive; also a detachment of ten Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps men, who have been patrolling Haputale under Mr. Hyde. I sent the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps back to Hapu- tale, and sent fifteen of the Ceylon Light Infantry back to Badulla.

All is quiet to-day. I hear indirectly that but for force having been shown there would have been trouble, as there is a good deal of resentment at the perahera having been stopped.

Monday, 7th.-To Badulla, after relieving the Volunteers of duty. Mr. Maybin goes to Bandarawela for the night.

In the evening receive a telegram from the town Aracci, Muppane, that he is being threatened by a band of Sinhalese; telegraph to Mr. Marks for necessary action. The town Aracci is a Moorman.)

Tuesday, 8th.-Hear from Mr. Marks that Muppane is quiet and that the threatened attack on the town Aracci was due rather to his unpopularity officially than to any racial antipathy.

Mr. Maybin returns from Bandarawela and reports all quiet.

Wednesday, 9th Thursday, 10th-Visit Passara. Here Mr. Robinson has raised a hand of special constables. He has two small cannon (with one of which, in old days, he is said to have hit the horse coach with a paddy pounder as a projectile), and has explained to the low-country men and others in the bazaar that in the event of riot these will be filled with buckshot and fired down the bazaar street! His personal influence is strong, too, as for years people have been in the habit of going

to him when they have grievances or quarrels to get them settled rather than to the 21. All quiet. Gansabhawa or other Court. The Korala, too, has done good work. The Moors in the bazaar come round and thank me for steps taken, while the Sinhalese seem quite happy and amicable. There will be no trouble here, I think.

22. District

Friday, 11th; Saturday, 12th.-District Court criminal case of cattle theft.Court case. The theft was an impudent one, and the accused had been convicted before. him eighteen months' rigorous imprisonment.

I gave

of Wewogama

Sunday, 13th; Monday, 14th.-Receive information that Wewegama mosque 23. Burning has been burnt. It was a poor place, thatched with straw, and semi-abandoned. do not think the Moors have used it recently for services; but it has been clearly

I TORQU burnt by someone in order to create trouble.

Get instructions from Government that Alutnuwara festival may proceed if 24. Alutnu- local residents will give security for there being no disturbance. See Mr. Kotala-Wa Pil wala. He evidently thinks the condition impracticable, but will consult with others.

grimage. Tuesday, 15th.-Sanitary round with Local Board Inspector. To my surprise I find that the night soil conservancy system recently introduced 28. Night is most popular. People are quite ready to pay to have their houses conserved by the Board, and applications are coming in fast without compulsion.

soil system.

Wednesday, 16th-See Mr. Kotalawela on the subject of the Alutnuwara 26 Alutnu- pilgrimage, and see also the Ratemahatmaya Yatikinda.

grimage.

it is impracticable for local residents to give security, and say the general opinion is

They are emphatic that ar pil that this would lead to a row on the part of mischief-makere, in order to get the security confiscated.

menistanţ

Thursday, 17th-Mr. Maybin, office assistant, has been thoroughly overworked 27. Office since the departure of Mr. MacDonald. And he has been unable to work at all for his examination, for which he will not go up in July.

Court case.

wara pil.

Friday, 18th.-District Court criminal case: sentenced the accused, a habitual 28. District criminal, to two years' rigorous imprisonment. Receive orders that Alutnuwara pilgrimage is to be allowed, and that martial law will be proclaimed as a precau-29. Alutnu tionary measure. See Mr. Kotalawela, who promises to go to Alutnuwara himself grimage. and to get the other local members of the Restoration Committee to go. He is very emphatic that I myself should go, and I think I had better, especially as I do not know whether any military force is going or not.

Saturday, 19th.--See Mr. Hall with regard to compensation for Glenanore tea 0 Land land acquired. Come to an agreement and sign it.

acquisition

elephant.

See Mr. Trail in connexion with a telegram from Bibile Ratemahatmaya that hogue an elephant at Kolladeniya has killed the Gamarala and is threatening the villagers (He shot it, generally. Mr. Trail undertakes to shoot it at once.

and said it

was the worst

across.) 32. Prices. 38. Martial

Mr. Marks sees me regarding Muppane bazaar prices. good case to send me all details for me to inform Government.

I tell him if he has a he had come Various people come and ask "What is going to happen!" now that martial, law has been proclaimed in the Province. I tell them to go on as they were before. law.

Tuesday, 22nd; Wednesday, 23rd.-Receive a very ample apology from a gentle.34. Apology.

He had sent me what I considered a very discourteous letter, so I sent it on to his agents in Colombo. This is the result!

Thursday, 24th.-Motored to Meegabakiula, where I saw the Ratemahatmaya Viyaluwa. Thence rode to Pangaragammana, the Ratemahatmaya meeting me at Meda Oya.

man.

35. To Panga. ragaufmana

Duwark

Friday, 25th-Rode to Alutnuwara, where I found a detachment of Punjabis To Alut- and an officer in charge and two members of the Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps. Everything is very quiet and orderly. I find, however, that there is some difficulty 87. Requisi- about food for the Punjabis: it has resulted in them going into the bazaar and tions. laving hands on what they want and taking it I arrange with the officer in charge

that they shall not forage for themselves, but that he shall let the Ratemahatmaya know daily what is required. The Ratemahatmaya and town Aracci have clearly been inefficient in the matter, and I threaten them both with dire consequences unless matters go on smoothly now.

Rode to Udawewa, where I inspected work being done at the tank. I think it will be completed before the rains.

Returned to Pangaragammana.

38. Udawewn

Saturday, 26th. Some 3,000 or 4,000 pilgrims must have passed Pangara. 19. Pilgrime gammana. Their behaviour was most orderly, and the attitude of those who recog nized me very friendly. One of the attractions of the Uva villager is that he does really seem to regard one as a friend.