Henry Pedris
Henry Pedris | |
|---|---|
Henry Pedris | |
| Born | 16 August 1888 Galle, Ceylon |
| Died | 7 July 1915 (aged 26) Colombo, Ceylon |
| Branch | Ceylon Defence Force |
| Years of service | 1914–1915 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Colombo Town Guard |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
Duenuge Edward Henry Pedris (Sinhala: හෙන්රි පේද්රිස්; 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, bypassing 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.
On 12 September 2024, the President of Sri Lanka posthumously pardoned Henry Pedris.