Duenuge Edward Henry Pedris (; 16 August 1888 – 7 July 1915) was a Ceylonese militia officer and a prominent socialite. Pedris was executed for treason by the 17th Punjab Regiment of the British Indian Army under martial law during the 1915 Sinhalese-Muslim riots. Convicted in a three day Field General Court Martial under the terms of the Army Act, by passing the local legal system, his execution was viewed as unjust by the local population and a warning to local leaders. It hastened the movement toward independence, providing motivation and a martyr for those who pioneered the movement.
Early life
Henry Pedris was born in Galle in the southern part of Ceylon, as the youngest of five children and the only son of Duenuge Disan Pedris and Mallino Fernando Pedris, daughter of Peace Officer Margris Fernando of Karandeniya. Both his father and uncle N. S. Fernando Wijesekara were leading businessmen of the time, and his family was among the wealthiest with ownership of graphite mines, plantations, real-estate and trading interests.
Pedris first attended 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 was an active member in the Colombo society. Joining the family business, his father hoped that Pedris take over his business enterprises and become a leader in the commercial sector.
Colombo Town Guard
With the outbreak of World War I, the British government mobilized the Ceylon Defence Force and raised the Colombo Town Guard, a militia unit of volunteers to defend Colombo from potential German raids. Pedris opted to join the Colombo Town Guard as a private and was the first Sinhalese to be enlisted to the new regiment. He soon became an excellent marksman and due to his excellent horsemanship was made a commissioned officer in the administrative (mounted) section. Within a year, he was promoted to the rank of captain. This, along with his immense wealth, resulted in Pedris being much envied by many.
Sinhalese Muslim Riots
The Sinhalese Muslim Riots (known as the 1915 riots), which began in Kandy when a group of Muslims belonging to the Indian community attacked a Buddhist pageant with stones, soon spread across the island. The British Governor of Ceylon, Sir Robert Chalmers, feared he might lose control of the colony and, on the advice of Brigadier General Malcolm, utilized a heavy-handed response towards the riot. Chalmers declared martial law on 2 June 1915, and ordered the police and the army to shoot without trial anyone who they deemed a rioter. With the escalation of the violence, looting broke out within Colombo. Pedris, who was responsible for the defense of the city, successfully managed to disband several rioting groups after peaceful discussions.
The jealousy felt towards Pedris and his family by both the British administration and their Sinhalese agents, led by Solomon Dias Bandaranike the Maha Mudaliyar (chief native interpreter and adviser to the Governor), culminated in false charges being drawn up against Pedris which eventually led to his court-martial. The charges were that Pedris shot at a group of Muslims and had incited people to march to the city of Colombo from Peliyagoda. Based on these accusations, 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. W. Amarasuriya, A. H. Molamure and several others.
Death
Field General Court Martial
Following his arrest, Pedris brought before a Field General Court Martial at the Headquarters of the General Officer Commanding, Ceylon in Malay Street, Slave Island on 1 July 1915. The Court Martial Board was made up of British officers of 17th Panjab Regiment and Pedris was defended by Advocate L. H. de Alwis. He was accused of "treason by levying war against Our Lord, the King" by means of "levying war by firing two revolver rounds into the air!". The Field General Court Martial quickly found Pedris guilty of the charge of treason and sentenced to death. The date of the execution was set for 7 July 1915 without any form of appeal.