rapa
10-31-2006, 03:25 PM
Edward Henry Pedris, United National Party and National Misfortune
Edward Henry Pedris is considered as a national hero who's brutal execution
was a lesson and an inspiration for patriots who were rallying round to form
organizations to fight for freedom in the early 1900s. But how comes he
related to the UNP and the National Misfortune?
Edward was a person who was born in 1888 with a silver spoon in his mouth
and he continued to enjoy the same privileges until his untimely death. D.
D. Pedris and N. S. Fernando Wijesekera were leading businessmen of that
time and were the father and uncle of D. Edward Henry Pedris.
Mr. D. D. Pedris, born in Dangedera, a village located in Galle, later owned
over 120 residential houses in the city of Colombo. His mother, Mrs.
Mallino, was from Karandeniya, a village closer to Ambalangoda. Edward Henry
Pedris was the only son in a family of five. Young Edward Pedris was
carefully brought up amongst his four sisters. Pedris first attended the
Colombo Academy (later became Royal College), where he excelled in sports
and shone as a good cricketer. From the Colombo Academy he joined St.
Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and he played for the first eleven. After some
time he came back to Royal College where he continued to play cricket and
took part in other sports activities.
Although, Edward Henry Pedris got a commission as an officer in the Town
Guard in the British volunteer force, it was not necessary to take to any
other occupation because his father was one of the wealthiest men at that
time. He had an enormous income from a large number of properties with the
most elegant buildings in the best areas in Cinnamon Gardens, Bambalapitiya
and Colpetty. In the volunteer force he received quick promotions to the
rank of captain because he was a very good horseman and marksman.
In 1914, he visited Siam, now known as Thailand, and purchased three
identical Buddha Statues made up of Gold. It was strongly prohibited to
import or export any material related to Buddhism at that time, so that he
put those Buddha Statues inside three tar barrels to conceal them. He
transported all of them in the very same ship from which he travelled back
to Sri Lanka. After the ship arrived Galle Harbour; he managed to pass two
out of the three tar barrels containing the Buddha Statues out of the custom
without getting caught. On the tired occasion, he was almost going to get
caught and his servants managed to put the third barrel into the sea of the
Galle Harbour.
He donated one to the Buddhist temple next to his house at Dangedara, Galle,
which is known as Sri Jayawardanaramaya, which was built by his father.
(That Gold Buddha Statue is still there and it is very heavy according to
the head priest and the statue is said to be made up of Gold and not merely
Gold Plated.)
Henry Pedris was planning to take the remaining Buddha Statue to Colombo and
due to the unrest of the country it was difficult to transport it from Galle
to Colombo. As a temporary measure, he dug a large pit inside his house and
berried and cemented the Buddha Statue to conceal it from British Rulers and
was hoping to excavate it later when the situation settles.
In Kandy on May 28, 1915, which was a Vesak Day, two Buddhist carol parties
had been given permission to conduct their religious processions as it had
been done traditionally in previous years through the streets of Kandy.
Conforming to the stipulation in the licence, the carol parties approached
the mosque area with music after 1.00 a.m. at which time they could have
conducted the procession with music.
However, some Moors had taken objection to this and had gathered outside the
mosque at midnight. The Police feared that this could result in a breach of
peace and the carol carts were diverted from the area. This incident led to
rioting and soon after, it spread to other parts of the Kandy town and the
Central Province and continued for a few days.
On the following evening, the May 29, 1915, on account of widespread
rumours, that Moors from Colombo and South India were preparing to attack
the Dalada Maligawa, tension heightened considerably. The riots resulted in
the destruction of both Sinhala and Muslim property and the British
following their customary colonial tactics showed considerable favour
towards the Moors in the decisions they took. Several Sinhalese were
brutally shot both in Gampola and Kandy.
The rioting and looting spread to Matale, Gampola, Kadugannawa, Kegalle,
Rambukkana and a few other Kandyan districts. By May 31, the riots had
spread to Colombo and tension between the Sinhala and the Muslims had
heightened. Rioting began in Borella where Muslim shops were attacked and
thereafter it spread to the Pettah.
The most serious incidents took place in the Pettah, where for a long period
of time Sinhalese businessmen like N. S. Fernando Wijesekera, D. D. Pedris
and a few others rose to prominence, while the bulk of the business concerns
in the area belonged to the Muslims.
Young Pedris' contribution to the freedom of Sri Lanka began with the
incidents that concerned the Sinhalese business premises in the Pettah.
Many falsehoods were spread. The British Police came to the conclusion that
during the riots, Edward who was a commissioned officer was found firing at
a Muslim mob when the attack on the Crystal Palace at Keyzer Street took
place.
Although a shot was fired, it was later, proved in Court, when the claim for
insurance on the life of Pedris came up in court, that this shot was not
fired by Edie Pedris. To this date, it is not known who pulled the trigger.
With fabrications of this kind in the air, the desperate British decided to
arrest Edward Henry Pedris.
The arrest has been described by several persons who were present at that
time. It was late in the afternoon when British officers, with several
Punjabis, forcibly entered the residence of D. D. Pedris at Turret Road.
They immediately put all the residents, including Mr. and Mrs. Pedris into
their Orchid House and locked them up. These soldiers ran berserk.
They rifled the whole house, broke open the doors and almirahs and did a
thorough search of the premises. It is believed that they were on the look
out for arms and for any incriminating documents in the premises because the
British believed that some members of the Pedris family were in league with
the Germans who were at war with the British. Captain Pedris was taken from
his residence in a military vehicle to the Welikade prison and the Police
and the Military exercised the most severe precautions and up to that time
the security was the tightest.
After Edward's arrest, valiant attempts were made by his father, members of
his family and influential friends to obtain his release. Warden Stone of St
Thomas' College interceded with the authorities to save Pedris' life without
success.
Although the actual date of the execution was the July, 8, 1951, rumour went
round that he would be put to death before a firing squad on the morning of
July 7. At the execution itself there were very few who were present.
However, among those present were the Inspector General H. L. Dowbigin, the
Venerable Dangedera Saranapala, the Chief Incumbent of the Isipathanarama
Temple, Dr. Swithin Merle Emmanual Perera, the Prisons Medical Officer and
D.C. Dewendre and other members of the Prison Staff. Captain Pedris was
taken to the scene of execution in military uniform bereft of his medals and
decorations.
Venerable Dangedera Saranapala said that Eddie Pedris made a specific
request that he be executed by a firing squad composed of Punjabis rather
than by a British squad as the Punjabis were non Christians. Just before the
execution Eddie Pedris saluted Dr. Perera in oriental fashion and said "I am
absolutely innocent" Dr. Perera related an astonishing story, a wonderful
display of courage without parallel. Pedris was asked to sit on a chair and
the superintendent had handed a handkerchief to cover his eyes. He declined
and said "I have mine" and took one from his pocket and tied it round the
eyes.
He then boldly said "I am ready", the brutal execution of Pedris was a
lesson and an inspiration for patriots who were rallying round to form
organizations to fight for freedom
With his unexpected death, the buried sacred Buddha statue remained under
the ground. The people inhabiting the House were not aware of the fact and
they were stepping over the head of the Buddha Statue. It bought an enormous
misfortune to the people who inhabited the house and those who are related
to them.
As the House was a very large and luxurious house in that era, lot of top
businessmen from Galle tried to buy it. The first to but it from the
relatives of Henry Pedris was one of the richest in southern province and
within in ten years of purchase, all his wealth was lost, and most of the
family members had untimely deaths. He managed to sell it and almost the
same story was repeated thrice and the people came to realize that there is
some misfortune associated with this house and finally no one there to buy
it for even very cheaper offers.
In mid 1990s, Mr. Vajira Abeywardana, M.P., the chief organizer for UNP for
Galle, was looking for a place to establish Galle District Branch. He was
not aware of the rumour of this misfortune and he bought this large house
for a very cheap price. Since then the Misfortune was always there with the
UNP and its followers to more or less extent. If there was no such
misfortune, they would have performed much better. They lost lot of
elections which they should have won. They lost the chance to be the ruling
party members in a very short time. When they ruled the country, the whole
country had a misfortune. LTTE became very strong and the Defence forces,
including the intelligence, became very week.
The president was not aware of this sort of a misfortune. Before he was
planning to join hands with UNP, he had enormous amount of luck. LTTE failed
every time they tried to attack the government, they missed the targets, and
lot of bombs were discovered prior to causing big damages. With the very
moment the President, hence the current government, decided to work with
UNP, his luck was lot. He lost the battles. Even the cricket matches were
lost. The piece talks will bring a significant advantage to LTTE. The
popularity of the president is rapidly decreasing. JVP or JHU will not
actively support him anymore. UNP is also not seems to be giving a full
support that was previously given by the friendly JVP and JHU. What will
happen to the government and the whole country if UNP continues to be a part
of the government?
What can someone get wary from this misfortune? One way is not to have any
connection with the UNP. The other way is to locate the place where the
Buddha statue is buried and take it out and worship it.
Please post your comments.
Kamal Gamage
Edward Henry Pedris is considered as a national hero who's brutal execution
was a lesson and an inspiration for patriots who were rallying round to form
organizations to fight for freedom in the early 1900s. But how comes he
related to the UNP and the National Misfortune?
Edward was a person who was born in 1888 with a silver spoon in his mouth
and he continued to enjoy the same privileges until his untimely death. D.
D. Pedris and N. S. Fernando Wijesekera were leading businessmen of that
time and were the father and uncle of D. Edward Henry Pedris.
Mr. D. D. Pedris, born in Dangedera, a village located in Galle, later owned
over 120 residential houses in the city of Colombo. His mother, Mrs.
Mallino, was from Karandeniya, a village closer to Ambalangoda. Edward Henry
Pedris was the only son in a family of five. Young Edward Pedris was
carefully brought up amongst his four sisters. Pedris first attended the
Colombo Academy (later became Royal College), where he excelled in sports
and shone as a good cricketer. From the Colombo Academy he joined St.
Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and he played for the first eleven. After some
time he came back to Royal College where he continued to play cricket and
took part in other sports activities.
Although, Edward Henry Pedris got a commission as an officer in the Town
Guard in the British volunteer force, it was not necessary to take to any
other occupation because his father was one of the wealthiest men at that
time. He had an enormous income from a large number of properties with the
most elegant buildings in the best areas in Cinnamon Gardens, Bambalapitiya
and Colpetty. In the volunteer force he received quick promotions to the
rank of captain because he was a very good horseman and marksman.
In 1914, he visited Siam, now known as Thailand, and purchased three
identical Buddha Statues made up of Gold. It was strongly prohibited to
import or export any material related to Buddhism at that time, so that he
put those Buddha Statues inside three tar barrels to conceal them. He
transported all of them in the very same ship from which he travelled back
to Sri Lanka. After the ship arrived Galle Harbour; he managed to pass two
out of the three tar barrels containing the Buddha Statues out of the custom
without getting caught. On the tired occasion, he was almost going to get
caught and his servants managed to put the third barrel into the sea of the
Galle Harbour.
He donated one to the Buddhist temple next to his house at Dangedara, Galle,
which is known as Sri Jayawardanaramaya, which was built by his father.
(That Gold Buddha Statue is still there and it is very heavy according to
the head priest and the statue is said to be made up of Gold and not merely
Gold Plated.)
Henry Pedris was planning to take the remaining Buddha Statue to Colombo and
due to the unrest of the country it was difficult to transport it from Galle
to Colombo. As a temporary measure, he dug a large pit inside his house and
berried and cemented the Buddha Statue to conceal it from British Rulers and
was hoping to excavate it later when the situation settles.
In Kandy on May 28, 1915, which was a Vesak Day, two Buddhist carol parties
had been given permission to conduct their religious processions as it had
been done traditionally in previous years through the streets of Kandy.
Conforming to the stipulation in the licence, the carol parties approached
the mosque area with music after 1.00 a.m. at which time they could have
conducted the procession with music.
However, some Moors had taken objection to this and had gathered outside the
mosque at midnight. The Police feared that this could result in a breach of
peace and the carol carts were diverted from the area. This incident led to
rioting and soon after, it spread to other parts of the Kandy town and the
Central Province and continued for a few days.
On the following evening, the May 29, 1915, on account of widespread
rumours, that Moors from Colombo and South India were preparing to attack
the Dalada Maligawa, tension heightened considerably. The riots resulted in
the destruction of both Sinhala and Muslim property and the British
following their customary colonial tactics showed considerable favour
towards the Moors in the decisions they took. Several Sinhalese were
brutally shot both in Gampola and Kandy.
The rioting and looting spread to Matale, Gampola, Kadugannawa, Kegalle,
Rambukkana and a few other Kandyan districts. By May 31, the riots had
spread to Colombo and tension between the Sinhala and the Muslims had
heightened. Rioting began in Borella where Muslim shops were attacked and
thereafter it spread to the Pettah.
The most serious incidents took place in the Pettah, where for a long period
of time Sinhalese businessmen like N. S. Fernando Wijesekera, D. D. Pedris
and a few others rose to prominence, while the bulk of the business concerns
in the area belonged to the Muslims.
Young Pedris' contribution to the freedom of Sri Lanka began with the
incidents that concerned the Sinhalese business premises in the Pettah.
Many falsehoods were spread. The British Police came to the conclusion that
during the riots, Edward who was a commissioned officer was found firing at
a Muslim mob when the attack on the Crystal Palace at Keyzer Street took
place.
Although a shot was fired, it was later, proved in Court, when the claim for
insurance on the life of Pedris came up in court, that this shot was not
fired by Edie Pedris. To this date, it is not known who pulled the trigger.
With fabrications of this kind in the air, the desperate British decided to
arrest Edward Henry Pedris.
The arrest has been described by several persons who were present at that
time. It was late in the afternoon when British officers, with several
Punjabis, forcibly entered the residence of D. D. Pedris at Turret Road.
They immediately put all the residents, including Mr. and Mrs. Pedris into
their Orchid House and locked them up. These soldiers ran berserk.
They rifled the whole house, broke open the doors and almirahs and did a
thorough search of the premises. It is believed that they were on the look
out for arms and for any incriminating documents in the premises because the
British believed that some members of the Pedris family were in league with
the Germans who were at war with the British. Captain Pedris was taken from
his residence in a military vehicle to the Welikade prison and the Police
and the Military exercised the most severe precautions and up to that time
the security was the tightest.
After Edward's arrest, valiant attempts were made by his father, members of
his family and influential friends to obtain his release. Warden Stone of St
Thomas' College interceded with the authorities to save Pedris' life without
success.
Although the actual date of the execution was the July, 8, 1951, rumour went
round that he would be put to death before a firing squad on the morning of
July 7. At the execution itself there were very few who were present.
However, among those present were the Inspector General H. L. Dowbigin, the
Venerable Dangedera Saranapala, the Chief Incumbent of the Isipathanarama
Temple, Dr. Swithin Merle Emmanual Perera, the Prisons Medical Officer and
D.C. Dewendre and other members of the Prison Staff. Captain Pedris was
taken to the scene of execution in military uniform bereft of his medals and
decorations.
Venerable Dangedera Saranapala said that Eddie Pedris made a specific
request that he be executed by a firing squad composed of Punjabis rather
than by a British squad as the Punjabis were non Christians. Just before the
execution Eddie Pedris saluted Dr. Perera in oriental fashion and said "I am
absolutely innocent" Dr. Perera related an astonishing story, a wonderful
display of courage without parallel. Pedris was asked to sit on a chair and
the superintendent had handed a handkerchief to cover his eyes. He declined
and said "I have mine" and took one from his pocket and tied it round the
eyes.
He then boldly said "I am ready", the brutal execution of Pedris was a
lesson and an inspiration for patriots who were rallying round to form
organizations to fight for freedom
With his unexpected death, the buried sacred Buddha statue remained under
the ground. The people inhabiting the House were not aware of the fact and
they were stepping over the head of the Buddha Statue. It bought an enormous
misfortune to the people who inhabited the house and those who are related
to them.
As the House was a very large and luxurious house in that era, lot of top
businessmen from Galle tried to buy it. The first to but it from the
relatives of Henry Pedris was one of the richest in southern province and
within in ten years of purchase, all his wealth was lost, and most of the
family members had untimely deaths. He managed to sell it and almost the
same story was repeated thrice and the people came to realize that there is
some misfortune associated with this house and finally no one there to buy
it for even very cheaper offers.
In mid 1990s, Mr. Vajira Abeywardana, M.P., the chief organizer for UNP for
Galle, was looking for a place to establish Galle District Branch. He was
not aware of the rumour of this misfortune and he bought this large house
for a very cheap price. Since then the Misfortune was always there with the
UNP and its followers to more or less extent. If there was no such
misfortune, they would have performed much better. They lost lot of
elections which they should have won. They lost the chance to be the ruling
party members in a very short time. When they ruled the country, the whole
country had a misfortune. LTTE became very strong and the Defence forces,
including the intelligence, became very week.
The president was not aware of this sort of a misfortune. Before he was
planning to join hands with UNP, he had enormous amount of luck. LTTE failed
every time they tried to attack the government, they missed the targets, and
lot of bombs were discovered prior to causing big damages. With the very
moment the President, hence the current government, decided to work with
UNP, his luck was lot. He lost the battles. Even the cricket matches were
lost. The piece talks will bring a significant advantage to LTTE. The
popularity of the president is rapidly decreasing. JVP or JHU will not
actively support him anymore. UNP is also not seems to be giving a full
support that was previously given by the friendly JVP and JHU. What will
happen to the government and the whole country if UNP continues to be a part
of the government?
What can someone get wary from this misfortune? One way is not to have any
connection with the UNP. The other way is to locate the place where the
Buddha statue is buried and take it out and worship it.
Please post your comments.
Kamal Gamage