§ 41. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will specify the offence, if any, for which two European planters, dressed in khaki, on the 5th June, 1915, entered a field at Pethavila, Ceylon, in which a woman, Appallagoda Aratchige Subarath Etana, was collecting a kind of vegetable, and without trial or charge shot at and killed her; whether the two men in khaki have been tried or any inquiry held; and whether Sir Robert Chalmers, then Governor of Ceylon, now Under-Secretary for Ireland, will be asked for an explanation?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law)I have no reason to believe that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member. I do not propose to call for an explanation from Sir R. Chalmers.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the first part of my question. I asked for what offence, if any, was this woman shot?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have no reason to believe that there is any truth whatever in the whole story.