Riots and Martial Law in Ceylon 1915

DETAILS : 

• Author :P. Ramanathan
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Manohar Publishers & Distributors
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 1916
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Binding : Hardcover
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9390035155
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9390035151
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 600 g 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Riots and Martial Law in Ceylon 1915 is a seminal historical and political document that provides a searing eyewitness account and legal critique of the civil unrest in colonial Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). Written by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, a towering figure in Ceylonese politics, the book was born out of the 1915 Sinhalese-Muslim riots and the subsequent brutal suppression by the British colonial administration. Ramanathan meticulously documents the "Reign of Terror" that followed the declaration of martial law, during which many innocent Ceylonese leaders and civilians were imprisoned, court-martialed, or executed without fair trial. The book serves as a formal protest against the high-handedness of Governor Robert Chalmers and the military authorities, highlighting the gross violations of justice and human rights committed in the name of restoring order.

The work is structured as a combination of historical narrative, personal correspondence, and legal evidence presented to the British Parliament. Ramanathan used his position in the Legislative Council and his subsequent journey to London—braving the danger of German submarines during World War I—to present this "Source Book" of grievances to the Imperial government. It is credited with turning the tide of British public opinion and eventually leading to the recall of the Governor and the appointment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry. For modern historians, the book is an indispensable primary source for understanding the roots of ethnic tension in Sri Lanka and the rise of Ceylonese nationalism against colonial authoritarianism.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan (1851–1930) was one of the most distinguished statesmen, lawyers, and philosophers of colonial Sri Lanka. Serving as the first "Educated Ceylonese" member of the Legislative Council, he was a rare leader who commanded the respect of all ethnic communities—Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim alike. He was a champion of national unity and constitutional reform, often referred to as the "Silver-Tongued Orator" for his persuasive eloquence. Beyond politics, he was a deeply spiritual man and a scholar of Hindu philosophy, but he is best remembered for his courageous defense of the Sinhalese people during the 1915 crisis, a feat that cemented his legacy as a founding father of the nation’s independence movement.