§ 35. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Sir Robert Chalmers, former Governor of Ceylon, now Under-Secretary for Ireland, has caused any reparation to be made to Liyanage Peries Perera, of Ampe, Ceylon, for the loss of his only son, Romanis Perera, who, on the 8th June, 1915, was, without trial or accusation, taken by the British soldiers, tied to a tree, and shot in the presence of his father and twenty-five other villagers; whether he has read the deposition in this case showing this young man's absence from the village on the day of the disturbance, and therefore not a participant; and will he say why the twenty-five other witnesses to these facts have never been given an opportunity of testifying to them?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law)I have read what purports to be a copy of the deposition in question, and I have no reason to believe in its accuracy.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman give the twenty-five villagers an opportunity of speaking on their oath what they know?