official public opinion would have been of decided advantage to 

 the Government. Even later, after the proclamation of Martial 

 Law, the Governor politely declined to see the Hon. Mr. 

 Ramanathan, K.C., C.M.G., Elected Ceylonese Member, who 

 requested an interview, and referred him to the General Officer 

 Commanding-. The fact that no accredited Sinhalese or Cey- 

 Icnese representatives have had access to the Governor, while 

 the daily newspapers (vide extract given below) announce that 

 His Excellency continues to be in close touch with Sir Thomson 

 Broom, President of the Chamber of Commerce, have had a dis- 

 turbing effect on public opinion. 



Extract from 

 ''The Ceylon Morning Leader," June i6tk_, 1915. 



Sir J. Thomson Broom, Chairman of the Chamber of Com- 

 merce, dined with His Excellency the Governor at Queen's House, 

 on Monday night. 



Lady Chalmers and Mrs. Stevenson, accompanied by the Maha 

 Mudaliyar, are coming down to-day. 



50. The following facts may be submitted as further 

 reasons for the withdrawal of Martial Law : 



1. The resumption of trade and business in the coun- 

 try, in spite of the many restrictions imposed under Martial- 

 Law upon the ordinary liberty of the people. 



2. The fact that a Buddhist Festival, connected with 

 the Poson or June Full Moon, has passed without any dis- 

 turbances. 



3. The quiet submission of the people to all orders, 

 including the surrendering of their title deeds on the demand 

 of the Commissioners an,d the payment or the execution 

 of bonds for sums arbitrarily fixed by the Commissioners as 

 compensation. 



4. That in the town of Colombo, and in some other 

 places, the Coast Moors have re-opened their boutiques, 

 and are plying- their trade without interference. 



51. When passes were applied for, the military usually 

 enquired, " To what nationality do you belong? " If the appli- 

 cant was Sinhalese, the officers sometimes refused the pass, 



