§ Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) if he has yet received the Report which he promised last October to obtain upon the cases of Messrs. Goonewardena, Goonseka, and Perera, of Hanwilla, in Ceylon, and if he can now say whether these gentlemen were sentenced to death by court-martial; whether this sentence was commuted; whether at a later date their innocence was completely established; and, if so, whether any reparation has been made to them for the injury they have suffered; and (2) whether the Governor of Ceylon is satisfied that Messrs. Goonewardena, 235W Goonseka, and Perera were sentenced to death upon false evidence; whether those who gave this evidence have yet been placed on their trial; and, if not, whether steps will be taken without delay to bring these men to justice?
§ Mr. LONGI have received a Report on this case. These three men were sentenced to death by court-martial on charges of treason and riotously demolishing a mosque. The sentences were commuted by Sir R. Chalmers, then Governor of Ceylon. In the course of an inquiry held shortly afterwards by a Committee of the Executive Council it was decided that the evidence against Goonewardena was unreliable, and he was at once released. The case of the other two men was not so clear, but they were given the benefit of the doubt and also released. The Governor sees no reason for the grant of compensation, seeing that the men were convicted on evidence which wasprimâ facie conclusive. I am not aware whether any action was taken against any of the witnesses in this case, but I will inquire.