26 MAY 1961, Page 16

ASIAN DISCRIMINATION SIR.—Mr. C. A. Gunawardenc of the Ceylon High

Commission in London finds it difficult to understand Christopher Hollis's charge of racial discrimination against Ceylon. To get some idea of the racial hysteria that is kept simmering, he has only to read the reports in the Ceylon press of the speeches and pronouncements made by politicians and Buddhist clergy in the past six years or so. He is no doubt aware of the senseless slaughter and pillage that was turned on the Tamils a few years ago and of the very dubious part played by Mr. Bandaranaike and the armed forces under his control at the beginning of the riots. Here at least the facts are well documented and fully justify the fears raised by Mrs. Bandaran- aike's recent threat that the Tamils should take responsibility for the consequences should she be compelled 'to restore law and order by other means.' —Yours faithfully,