2 5 



not wish to be present, he could leave the room. The proposal 

 was that wealthy Sinhalese of different wards would have to 

 pay a levy in proportion to their wealth as compensation to 

 the Moormen. 



There was a feeling of strong opposition to a forced levy on 

 the Sinhalese alone, though it was freely made known to the 

 authorities that wealthy Sinhalese gentlemen would liberally 

 contribute if a public subscription were opened by the Mayor. 

 In these circumstances, Mr. Byrde summoned nearly a hundred 

 gentlemen of the highest standing, wealth, and position in the 

 community, all Sinhalese, and while directing them to contribute 

 liberally to the fund, he stated that it was the policy of the 

 Government to levy contributions on all Sinhalese " per capita," 

 and on their property, to be given to the Moors, exemptions to 

 be considered hereafter; and he would undertake, when the 

 special tax was raised on the Sinhalese, that the amount contri- 

 buted would be deducted from the imposition. The gentlemen 

 so summoned willingly contributed liberal sums to relieve the 

 distress of the Moors, though exception was taken to any forced 

 levy and that it should be confined to the Sinhalese alone. 

 Among those summoned were : Messrs. James Pieris, barrister- 

 at-law ; E. J. Samarawickrame, barrister-at-law ; Donald 

 Obeyesekere, barrister-at-law; F. R. Senanayake, barrister-at- 

 law and member of the Municipal Council, Colombo; and 

 L. W. A. De Soysa. 



The attention of Mr. A. C. Allnutt, Excise Commissioner 

 of Ceylon and Special Commissioner, was called to the illegality 

 of the forced exactions, but he declared to a barrister that it 

 was quite legal under Martial Law, and instanced the action of 

 the Germans in Belgium. 



29. The instances cited are typical. These contributions 

 are exacted wholesale from men, women and children in all parts 

 of the country, under severe penalties. It is submitted that these 

 forced levies are unjust in their incidence, being the penalisation 

 of all Sinhalese, however innocent and eminent they might be, 

 for the delinquencies of the guilty of their race. 



