§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give any 1234W explanation of the case of Mr. D. C. Lewis, of Welikada, Colombo, who, after acquittal by the District Court of Colombo, was rearrested and compelled to purchase his release by giving a bond for the bond for the payment of Rs. 5,000 in five instalments of Rs. 1,000 each; whether he has seen the receipt for this bond, dated 10th August, 1915, signed by C. V. Brayne, Special Commissioner; by whom this Commissioner was appointed; whether he is now in the service of the Government of Ceylon; and what has been done with this and the other money obtained in the same way?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have received no separate report on this case; but the system under which assessments were made by Special Commissioners is explained, and the names of the Commissioners are given on pages 32 and 33 of the correspondence presented to Parliament. Mr. Brayne is now in the service of the Government of Ceylon. All sums received under these assessments have been employed in the payment of compensation to the Mahomedan sufferers in the riots.