CO882-10 — Page 54

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

40. To Tal dean

41. To Ba

dulla.

42. Report

oh Pelwatte

43. Town Ousert.

1. Anti-Moor- ish riots.

Rambokkana

kans--after the rio's.

94

Rode in the evening to Meegahakiula and Taldena, where I came upon a pretty Pinkama.

Sunday, 27th.-Returned to Badulla I found Mr. Campbell and Mr. Maybin had gone down to Pelwatte in response to a telegram from some Moors there.

Monday, 28th.-Messrs. Campbell and Maybin return. There was no disturb ance at Pelwatte, though there was some danger of a personal quarrel developing into a racial row.

Tuesday, 29th. Held a Committee meeting to deal with the matter of a Town Guard. Almost everyone in Uva is a Volunteer.

Land sale.

Wednesday, 30th.-Land sale

Badulla Kachcheri.

9th July, 1915.

F. BARTLETT,

Government Agent, va.

Enclosure 3 in No. 44.

DIARY OF THe Government Agent, Sabaragamuwa, FOR JUNE, 1915. TUESDAY, 1ST. Having been informed at Nanuoya, on my return from leave in Nuwara Eliya, that Rambukkana, in the Kegalle District, was in flames, and that serious anti-Moorish riots were threatened in other parts of the Kegalle District, 1. Arrival at at the suggestion of Mr. Denham, Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary, Mr. Forrest and myself left the train at Rambukkana about 4.30 in the morning. The station premises were full of refugees, but no information could be obtained from them. We then proceeded to the bazaars, which are within 100 yards from the 1. Rambuk station. The spectacle was a gruesome one. The large row of boutiques (includ ing one or two upstair buildings), once a flourishing bazaar, and always crowded with people, was a mass of burning ruins, which lit up the road. Not a soul was to be seen except an old chetty, whose boutique had escaped the flames. On the road were three dead bodies of Sinhalese men, typical rowdies, judging from their appearance. one still clasping a knuckle-duster. We walked through the hazaars and saw two or three men in the liquor shop, but they gave us no information. We proceeded to the Rest House, and there saw another dead body and one injured man. Both had been picked up by a local planter, who had come to the scene about 11 p.m. and found them still alive. A few yards beyond the Rest House was the dead body of another Sinhalese man. It was obvious that a pitched battle had been fought, something like the famous Sidney Street affair, for, we subsequently heard, the Moors when attacked used firearms from the upstair house which stood out promi- nently in the bazaars. Later the Ratemahatmaya arrived in his car and told us that the day before (31st May) a large and unruly crowd had collected in the bazaars, and that but for his and the President's presence the rioting would have begun that day.

4. Interview

of Police st

Later Mr. Forrest commenced judicial inquiries, but very little information vish Insper could then be obtained, and, as it was not then known what was the exact state of tor General

affairs elsewhere, we decided to go into Polgahawela, where we heard the Inspector Polgahawels. General of Police was quartered with a force of Punjabis, Volunteers, and Police.

At Polgahawela I discussed the situation with the Inspector-General of Police who gave me much information. It was decided to send six armed constables at once to Rambukkana to deal with any possible renewal of activities, as various rumours were floating about, and I accompanied a force of twenty Royal Garrison Artillery soldiers, with Captain Greer, to Kegalle, where I wanted to see my Assistant and find out what was taking place in this part of the district. Having received a wire from Ratnapura to the effect, that there were so far no signs of trouble in that district. I decided to remain here for the present. At Kegalle I met the Assistant Superintendent of Police, and asked him to return and to take all necessary pre- cautions to cope with possible disturbance.

At Kegalle Assistant intimated that he feared an outbreak at Mawanella and Accordingly the Royal pending riots Arnayaka, where there are large numbers of Moors.

B. Rumours of

at Mawanella

and Armayaks Garrison Artillery detachment was sent to Arnayaka. In Kegalle all the Volun-

teers and planters had come in and were ready to quell any outbreak.

Reaching Mawanella I ordered the President, who had apparently done good work at Rambukkana, to protect the village that night and to send for the Royal Garrison Artillery soldiers if there was any likelihood of a disturbance. Meanwhile Mr. Forrest and myself returned to Rambukkana.

95

We had had dinner and had returned from inspecting the police patrol, which 6. At Ram- was difficult to find (the facts were reported to the Inspector-General of Police the bukkana. next day), and were just going to bed, when a cyclist came from Mawanella announcing that serious trouble had broken out at Arnayaka, and that reinforce- ments had been sent for. It was 11.30 p.m. We dressed and pushed off by car to Mawanella-which was absolutely quiet, with only the Moors and the President on 7. Reported guard and then proceeded to Arnayaka. We had hardly gone half-a-mile, and we rioting at met Captain Greer returning with his men. He reported that there had been an attempted riot, but that they just arrived in time, had succeeded, without the neces- sity of firing on the crowd (they used the butt ends of the rifle), in dispersing them, and had returned, leaving a small patrol behind. The serious disturbances in Colombo apparently necessitated the early return of Captain Greer and the Return of Artillerymen. At 3 a.m. we got a little sleep at Mawanella, and early in the morning detachment motored back to Rambukkana.

Arnsyaka.

The R.G.A.

10 Colombo.

of fire st

10. Threaten-

Meanwhile, as d riot at the

Wednesday, 2nd.-In Rambukkana we continued our inquiries, but had not 9. Outbreak gone far when it was reported that a fire had broken out in the Sinhalese boutiques Rambukkans which had not been touched on the night of 30th May. I went into the town with the Ratemahatmaya, and found one long row of boutiques on fire. It was said the Moors had set fire to the buildings, but the statement was an obvious falsehood. As no attempt was made to open the boutiques and remove what goods, if any, were inside, I had them broken open. There was practically nothing inside. The goods had all been removed, thus corroborating the theory that the fire was probably started by the Sinhalese, either in order to set up a claim in reconvention from the Moors or to get up another disturbance. I think the latter object was the chief one, for when the fire was at its height a rumour spread that the Moors were attacking the Pansala. The Ratemahatmaya was sent off to verify it. nothing could be done to save the boutiques, Mr. Forrest and I went to the Pansala, Panzala. as there were rumours of a pending riot. We walked to the Pansala, half-a-mile away, and there came across a crowd of about 200, armed with guns, kitul clubs, cathes, and heavy sticks of various descriptions, We proceeded to disarm the people, who gave up their weapons without a murmur. It being said that the Government teacher had told the people the Pansala was in danger of attack from the Moors (there was not a Moor to be seen within probably half-a-mile), we arrested him and told the crowd to disperse. In the meantime the train had come in, and by that train arrived one, Abraham de Silva, the chief mischief-maker of the town, and undoubtedly the cause of all the trouble, though he had taken care to be absent during the actual riot. As he was somewhat impertinent, and his presence encouraged the crowd to remain instead of dispersing, Mr. Forrest had him arrested whilst I was at a distance. He and the Government teacher being under arrest, the crowd reso- lutely refused to disperse. I sent for the police. In the meantime it appeared to me inadvisable, if we wanted the crowd to disperse peacefully, to place under arrest Abraham de Silva, a most influential man with these people. He guaranteed to 11. Arrent of make the people go to their homes if he were released. I thought this advisable, as Abraham de we were unarmed, and there was no other way of dealing with the crowd after dispersing the crowd we took the teacher (Abraham de Silva) back with us to Rambukkana, and later, realising that if he were left in the town further serious trouble would arise, it was decided to have him brought to Polgahawela. I did not then know that martial law had been proclaimed, otherwise I should have had no hesitation in arresting him, as I knew him to be a man who had given much trouble previously in the district. In rearresting him my idea was to bind him over to keep the peace. Subsequently the proclamation of martial law justified his detention. At the same time I feel certain that had he been taken away from the crowd under arrest a very serious riot would have occurred before the police arrived.

But

Silva.

Hambukkana

At 1 pm. we returned to Polgahawela, and, after consultation with Inspector-13. Return to General of Police, decided to take twelve Punjabis to Rambukkana, as there a Kegalle appeared to be every likelihood of further trouble To prevent it being known that with Punjabis

the Punjabis were coming we went via Kegalle, to which place another ten Punjabis were being sent, as there were rumours of an attack in Kegalle. At Kegalle Mr. Forrest dealt with Abraham de Silva. security in Rs. 5,000, and, failing to do so, was committed to prison. When he was his detention. He was asked to give 1. Abraham searched in the police station a loaded revolver was found in his possession.

I left Kegalle about 4 p.m. with ten Punjabis. Several crowds were dispersed on the way, and when we were about four miles from Rambukkana the Inspector-

de Bilva and