§ 23. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has read the affidavit sworn before a magistrate at Ratnapura, Ceylon, by Manannalage Rankira, aged sixty-five, setting forth how on the 3rd June, 1915, some Englishmen drove up in a motor car and, without warning or question, shot her husband, Juwanis Fernando, aged over seventy, who died an hour and a half later; how she was forced to sell or mortgage all she possessed in order to pay a ransom for her two sons; and whether Sir Robert Chalmers, then Governor of Ceylon, now Under-Secretary for Ireland, found such occurrences conducive to affection?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have read what purports to be a reprint of the affidavit in question, but I have no reason to believe that it accurately represents the facts.
§ Mr. GINNELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman expect his answer to be believed in Ceylon?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes, Sir.