Henry Pedris

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Henry Pedris
August 16, 1888 - July 9, 1915

Henry Pedris
Place of birth Colombo, Ceylon
Place of death Colombo, Ceylon
Allegiance Flag of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Service/branch Ceylon Defence Force
Rank Captain
Unit Colombo Town Guard
Battles/wars World War 1

Captain Duenuge Edward Henry Pedris CTG (August 16, 1888 - July 9, 1915) was a militia officer and a prominent socialite in colonial Ceyon (present Sri Lanka) who was executed by British officials for alleged incitement of racial riots in 1915, which where proven false. His execution at a young age was viewed as extremely unjust by most Sri Lankans, it hastened the movement towards independence for Sri Lanka and became a martyr providing motivation to those who pioneered the movement.

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[edit] Early life

Henry Pedris was born on August 16, 1888 in Colombo, Ceylon, the youngest of five children and the only son of Duenuge Disan Pedris and Mallino Pedris. Both his father and uncle N.S. Fernando Wijesekara were leading businessmen of the time, and his family was among the wealthiest and most influential in Sri Lanka.

Pedris first attended the Colombo Academy (later renamed as Royal College) situated in the Pettah. From there he joined St. Thomas' College where he excelled in sports and shone as a good cricketer, playing for the school's first eleven cricket team. After some time he returned to Royal College where he again played cricket and engaged in other sporting activities.

Pedris was a teetotaler and his father had great hopes that Pedris would one day take over his business enterprises and become a leader in the commercial world.

[edit] Colombo Town Guard

With the out break of World War 1 the British mobilized the Ceylon Defence Force and raised the Colombo Town Guard a regiment of volunteers to defended Colombo if attacked. Pedris as opted to join the Colombo Town Guard as a private and first Sinhalese to be enlisted to the new regiment. He soon became an excellent marksmen and due to his excellent housemen-ship was made a commissioned officer in the mounted section. Within a year he was promoted to the rank of Captain. This along with his immense wealth resulted Pedris being much envied by many.

[edit] Sinhalese Muslim Riots

The Sinhalese Muslim Riots (known as the 1915 riots) which began in Kandy when a group of Muslim attacked a Buddhist pageant with stones soon speared across the island. The British Governor of Ceylon Sir Robert Chalmers fearing he might loss control of the Colony, on advice of Brigadier General Malcolm came down with a heavy hand on the Sinhalese community and declared martial law on 2 June 1915 and ordered the Police and the Army to shoot any one who they deemed a rioter without a trial it is said the numbers of Sinhalese killed this way where thousands. With the escalation of the violence looting brook out within Colombo. Capt. Pedris as he was responsible for the defence of the city successfully managed to disband several rioting groups after peacefully discussions.

The vanity and jealousy towards Capt. Pedris and the rich Pedris family of both the British and their Shinlaies henchmen, led by Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranike the Maha Mudaliyar (chief native interpreter and adviser to the Governor) was culminated in false charges being drawn up against Capt. Pedris and which would result him being court martialed. The trumped up charges where made against him stating that he shoot at a group of Muslim and that he had incited people to march to the city of Colombo from Peliyagoda. Based on these accusation he was swiftly arrested.

Following his arrest the British, fearing open rebellion, imprisoned more than 80 prominent Sinhalese leaders. Among those imprisoned were D. S. Senanayake, D. R. Wijewardena, Edwin Wijeyeratne, Dr. Cassius Pereira, E. T. De Silva, F.R. Dias Bandaranaike, H. Amarasuriya, A.H. Molamure and several others.

[edit] Death

Soon after his arrest and incarceration he was tried by a military court. Pedris was tried by a special court of three military officials and declared guilty and a traitor on 1 July 1915 thus was sentenced to death by firing squad. The date of the execution was set for 7 July 1915 without any form of appeal.

Chalmers passed on the decision to confirm the death sentence to Brigadier General Malcolm. The only person who was able to intervene in this case was Sir Hector Van Cuylenberg who was the elected representative in the legislature, but his representations were not taken seriously by the military. Many prominent citizens and educationists, both British and Ceylonese alike appealed against the judgment, without any impact. An appeal was made to HM King George V. The execution was promptly carried out to prevent these action from taking any effect. On 7 July 1915 (the day is considered ominous by Sri Lankans ever since) Capt. Pedris was striped of his rank and executed by firing squad. Its said that he refused the blindfold offered to him, requesting to face death fearlessly. After the execution in keeping with military tradition, his body was buried in an unmarked grave against the wishers of the his family. In 1987 Capt. Pedris’s grave was unearthed and the remains where verified as his and reburied with military honors (it is said his father knew exactly were his son was buried).

A Court inquiry that followed, found Pedris not guilty and his and his family name cleared.

[edit] Legacy

Capt. Pedris’s death was also meant as a warning for other Ceylonese leaders who where leading the Independence struggle. After the execution the blood soaked chair on which Capt. Pedris was shot was taken to the prison cells that contained many Sinhalese leaders including D. S. Senanayake and shown to them with the warning that they would be next.

Many claim the execution of Pedris and the barbaric actions of the British, marked the beginning of the independence movement with many people specially from the educated middle class taking an active role in it. Their action resulted in Ceylon gaining independence in 1948.

Governor Chalmers was removed from the post and made Under-Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Lord Wimborne. The powers of the Mudaliyars where abolished when the Native Department was closed down in 1938.

[edit] External links and sources