§ 6. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action was taken by Sir Robert Chalmers, Governor of Ceylon, now Under-Secretary for Ireland, on the affidavit made before a magistrate at Colombo last September, by Jayasuriya Aratchige Sobo Nona Hamine, that she herself had witnessed English soldiers, on the morning of 5th June, 1915, shoot her husband and another native on their own land at Kalagedihena, where there had been no disturbance, and that for seven hours no one ventured to remove the bodies for fear of getting shot; if the 2074 facts are denied, what did the two men suddenly die of; and whether in Ceylon magistrates are free to administer false affidavits, and proctors to register them, setting forth facts amounting primâ facie to murder without any consequences following?
§ The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Mr. Harcourt)I am not aware what action, if any, the Governor took on this affidavit, and I have no reason to believe that the facts are as represented.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether there is any restriction at all on what would be perjury if this affidavit is false—whether there is any restriction at all upon perjury in Ceylon?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI am not in a position to give that information. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down any further question to my right hon. Friend.