Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Riots Damages Ordinance (1915), of Ceylon, authorises the Government to exempt any class from its operation; whether the Ceylon Government has exempetd all classes of inhabitants except the Sinhalese; where the liability was imposed on all Sinhalese whether resident in a riot area or not; what is the total amount already recovered from the Sinhalese people under this Ordinance; and whether action under this Ordinance is still being continued?
§ Mr. LONGThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that, except in municipalities 959W which are covered by separate provisions of the Ordinance, ail classes except the Sinhalese have been exempted from the payment of compensation. The liability is imposed by the Ordinance on all persons resident or owning property in a riot area. Particulars of the total assessment of compensation are given in the correspondence presented to Parliament, but I have no complete figures of the amount actually collected, since in some few areas collection is still in progress.