CO882-10 — Page 55

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PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference

C.O.

882 /10

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO:

BF

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC,

14. The

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General of Police met us with six Punjabis, and reported that during my absence Rambukkana, he received information of pending trouble in Rambukkana, and went off at once

second riot at

18. At Krg

allo.

17. Itumours of riots, Rat

napura dis. trict.

18. Return to Ratnapura

19. Bulatko hupitiya .akirmish.

20. The oven- ing at Rusti

wella

#1. Serious news from Ratnapura.

with six Punjabis, who arrived at the nick of time. They came across two armed crowds, who refused to disperse. fired on them, and killed three and wounded several others.

We came back to Rambukkana and found the place practically deserted. The shooting had had the desired effect. Whilst at Rambukkana Station a telephone message came through reporting an attack on Ambepussa; and I received a curious telegram from my Assistant at Kegalle to the effect that "a determined attempt was to be made that night to attack the jail," presumably to release Abraham de Silva. I thereupon decided to leave six Punjabis in Rambukkana in charge of Mr. Mackessack, a planter, and to take six Punjabis back to Kegalle. The Inspector- General of Police returned by special train to Polgahawela We left Rambukkana at 8 p.m., and, after a few minor incidents on the way, reached Kegalle at 10. where, in addition to twelve Punjabis, were fifteen Ceylon Mounted Rifles and other Volunteers as well as a large force of special police officers. The rumour about the attempt on the jail was, as I anticipated, a fable. The town was perfectly quiet the whole nights and we managed to get a few hours" sleep before returning to Polga- hawela the next day.

Thursday, 3rd.-Went to Rambukkana in the early morning, where everything was perfectly quiet, and, having received a wire from Ratnapura to the effect that disturbances had broken out in isolated places, decided to return at once.

Left Polgahawela at 2 p.m. by special car, and reached Ruanwella at 6 p.m. There were rumours of threatened raids everywhere. but it was not till I reached Bulatkohupitiya that I came across the first looted bazaar. Much damage had been done in this bazaar the previous night, and, as on on my way I noticed many groups of Sinhalese going towards the bazaars, it seemed advisable to bring back a party from Ruanwella, where found about fifty planters on guard. I took back two motor-car loads, but the looters had evidently got to hear of us, and all we found were estate coolies helping themselves

On my return to Ruanwella information was brought to me that about 200 men had come from Veyangoda and, after looting all the boutiques and houses up the road, were on their way to Ruanwella and Dehiowita. The crowd came in my absence. Major Bayly, who was in charge of the troopers, parleyed with them, and eventually gave them an hour to clear off. I went over to see them, but it was so pitch dark that they could not be seen, and as the bridge across the river had been blocked by two bullock carts and a wire entanglement, it was difficult to go into action. The troopers kept watch all night, but the rioters disappeared and were not seen again. It is to be regretted that the troopers and Volunteers did not fire on them at once when they first tried to cross the bridge.

In the course of the night I received another wire from Ratnapura that riots had taken place at Kendangamuwa and Talawitiya that morning, and that the crowd had been fired upon at the latter place, where three persons were killed. Owing to the state of affairs at Ruanwella I remained there that night.

12. The riots S

in the village

wolla-Ratna. 441 road.

At

Friday, 4th.-Left Ruanwella early in the morning, and saw much damage along Ave done in the bazaars at Moragolla, Kendangamuwa and Talawitiya, on the Ratna

pura-Avissawella road. The riots had taken place at midday on the 3rd. Kuruwita a large Moor bazaar eight miles from Ratnapura-no damage had been done. I found there a strong guard of Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps and police. But the rioters, disappointed at being foiled, went inland and looted several large houses at Gonapitiya, one-and-a-half miles from Kuruwita.

23. The satik- factory

arrangements

Assistant

Reached Ratnapura at 8.30, and after a conference, with the support of police and my office assistant, found that all possible arrangements had been made, not made at Rat- only to prevent Ratnapura town being raided, but also to give assistance to the out- napata by the lying important Moorish centres. In addition to the Ceylon Light Infantry, which Superinten guarded the inner portion of the town, about fifty planters and twenty special and office police officers were in town with the headquarters at the club. There were also local I cannot tant for forces of planters quartered at Pelmadulla, Rakwana, and Balangoda. dealing with disturbances, speak too highly of the excellent arrangements made by my assistants and the Police Magistrate during my absence, and on my arrival there was little to be done except to "wait and see.'

dent of Police

31. Tro guarding of

Ratapars

from the

mider

No serious attempt had been made to raid Ratnapura, though the previous day it was observed that small groups of low-country men were entering the town. All the entrances to the town were therefore guarded. and any suspicious characters

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·

Hangamuws.

were at once arrested, The effect of this was to drive the raiders across the river below the town, and a determined attempt was then made to loot the boutiques in Hangamuwa, a village four miles from Ratnapura. A mounted patrol at once rode 26. Rioting at off and encountered the rioters in the act of looting. They were fired upon, but, though some were apparently hit, none were killed.

During the day rumours of all kinds prevailed, generally taking the form of rumoursfost attacks by the Moors on the Sinhalese-a most improbable contingency, as the Moors are few in number and somewhat timid. But the rumours had the effect of keeping the men on the alert, and the constant scouting parties sent out in all directions no doubt contributed more than anything else to the safety of the town,

96. The

Kahawatta:

To enforce the martial law rules mounted parties patrolled the streets at night, mon Saturday, 5th.-Received a report of serious rioting last night at Kahawatta, rules.

martial law where the local forces fired on the crowd and killed seven persons, including the 28. Rita at conductors of the two estates close by. Not much damage was done to boutiques, but several killed. the rioters were caught in the act of dynamiting the mosque. There is reason to believe that the crowd included Matara coolies employed on the estates, as well as villagers, and that the ringleaders are a leading local shopkeeper and the headmen.

All quiet last night at Ratnapura. Scouting parties were sent down the Nam- the roads. bapana road, as there were frequent reports of renewed activity on the part of the looters. At Kiriella-the most important village on the road-two very large boutiques were completely cleared out of goods to the value of Rs. 40,000.

29. Patrolling

Udawela near

81. Estab-

A report was received from Mr. Brown, who was guarding Balangoda with nine test European planters and several native and Burgher special police officers, that they Opanake. had come upon a mob of Sinhalese just commencing to loot the boutiques at Udawela, half-way up the Balangoda Pass. The crowd was fired upon, but no one was hit.

Sunday, 6th.-As constant rumours and complaints were being received regard lishment of a ing the state of affairs at Kendangamuwa-one of the largest Moor quarters in the base at Ben- district and as Major Bayly intimated to me that he was unable to spare men from Ruanwella to keep guard, I decided to make Kendangamuwa a permanent base for troops, and sent down a section of seven to preserve order and to protect the Moors

In the morning twenty-five Punjabis arrived with an English officer, and were Punjabis. quartered at the boys' school.

dangamuwa.

12. Arrival of

15. Rumours

A rumour having been received (hereafter nothing but rumours of possible of riots at looting and rioting was received) that the railway works at Dela and Watapota Dela were to be attacked, two telephone operators were quartered at Tiruwanaketiya and Dela, with instructions to report hourly. There was no riot at Dela, though on the 5th a large armed crowd collected there with the object of meeting an alleged counter-attack of the Moors.

want of ac-

The question of accommodating prisoners, who continued to be arrested in large 34. The numbers, is causing some anxiety. The police lock is already uncomfortably over- number of increasing crowded.

I therefore decided to make use of the old jail, which, by a piece of luck, and had not been demolished Steps were at once taken to have it cleaned up and made commodation. ready for prisoners. There are no locks to the cells, but with a strong guard there will be little likelihood of any attempt to escape. Without the old jail it would have been impossible to accommodate the large number of prisoners arrested.

Pelmadulla

Monday, 7th.-Motored to Rakwana: visited the guard at Pelmadulla in charge 15. Visit to of Mr. Geddes, J.P., Unofficial Police Magistrate, who had done much good work and Rakwans. with the help of his loyal band of planters and some prominent natives. The Presi dent, Mr. Dambawinne, who had been sent to use his influence in this quarter, proved of much assistance to the local European guard.

86. The

The damage along the Ratnapura-Rakwana road is not very great: boutiques damage on here and there have only been looted. At Kahawatta the mosque was dynamited, the Rakwana but not much damaged.

There is no damage done beyond seventeen miles from road. Ratnapura On my way to Rakwana to visit the patrol of planters, whilst going up $7. An inci. the pass, a big piece of cabook was thrown at our car. Fortunately no one was hurt, and unfortunately, as our hood was up, we were

It smashed the glass screen; dent on the unable to see or find the culprit who threw it.

Went round the town and warned the Sinhalese of the .consequences of any rioting, and then motored back to Ratnapura.

Found numerous wires on my return from Moors in Kalutara and Beruwala

etc., askine for information regarding missing friends or relations.

WAY.

To avoid the possibility of any shortage of rice on estates, on the orders of 38. Rice Government I circulated the Superintendents and informed them that if there was question.

any difficulty in obtaining rice Government would assist them.

H

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