Blog Archives

John Kotalawala [Snr] and Carters’ Strike in 1906 Source:Dailymirror ‘Once Inspector John Kotalawala detected Sergeant W. Kelaart taking a bribe of Rs 5/-. The accused Sgt was kept out of the station and there was displeasure between Kotalawala and Inspector Ohlums over it. When the case came up at Magistrates courts, the Magistrate asked ASP de Saram, to drop the case as it disclosed internal trouble between police officers!’—History of Ceylon Police – Dep: pp370/371-  [A. Kekille verdict?] Carters’ Strike –August 1906 The carters were a powerful community throughout the 19th century. They possessed the ability to cripple 60 to 70% of the entire goods transport in the island. They dictated terms to all industrialist and plantations and bought over police officers below the rank of ASPs.  “No person driving a single or double bullock cart used for carrying goods shall sit in  or upon any part of the cart, ...