Legislative Council of Ceylon
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2020) |
Legislative Council of Ceylon | |
---|---|
Unicameral | |
History | |
Established | 13 March 1833 |
Disbanded | 1931 |
Preceded by | None |
Succeeded by | State Council of Ceylon |
Seats | 15 (1833-1889) 18 (1889-1910) 21 (1910-1920) 37 (1920-1923) 49 (1923-1931) |
Elections | |
Last election | 1924 Ceylonese Legislative Council election |
Meeting place | |
The Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort. The building was used by the Senate of Ceylon between 1947 and 1971. Today it is known as the Republic Building and houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
Sri Lanka portal |
The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the
Members of the Legislative Council, used the post-nominal letters, MLC.[1]
History
Introduction
In 1833 the
In 1889 the number of appointed unofficial members was increased to eight (three Europeans, one Low Country Sinhalese, one Kandyan Sinhalese, one Tamil, one Muslim and one Burgher).
McCallum Reforms
The Legislative Council was reformed in 1910 by the McCallum Reforms. Membership was increased from 18 to 21, of which 11 were official and 10 were unofficial. Of the non-official members, six were appointed by the governor (two Low Country Sinhalese, two Tamils, one Kandyan Sinhalese and one Muslim) and the remaining four were elected (two Europeans, one Burgher and one educated Ceylonese).
The most notable aspect of the McCallum Reforms was the introduction of elected members. However, fewer than 3,000 people could vote, as the right to vote was based on education and assets held. One of the four elected non-official members was Ponnambalam Ramanathan. The financial committee was also established to control the revenue. It included the Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer, Revenue Controller and all the non-official elected members. These changes did not satisfy the Ceylonese, and the movement for constitutional reforms grew.
First Manning Reforms
Further reforms were enacted in 1920 by the First Manning Reforms. Membership was increased from 21 to 37, of which 14 were official and 23 were unofficial. Of the non-official members, four were appointed by the governor (two Kandyan Sinhalese, one Muslim and one Indian Tamil) and the remaining 19 were elected (11 on a territorial basis, five Europeans, two Burghers and one Chamber of Commerce).
A notable change was the introduction of territorial constituencies. Of the 11 territorial constituencies, three were from the Western Province and one each from the other eight provinces. Three non-official members were elected to the Executive Council. Yet again the Ceylonese were not satisfied and requested more change.
Second Manning Reforms
The Second Manning Reforms of 1923 increased membership from 37 to 49, of which 12 were official and 37 were unofficial. Of the non-official members, eight were appointed by the governor (three Muslim, two Indian Tamils and three others) and the remaining 29 were elected (23 on a territorial basis, three Europeans, two Burghers, one Ceylon Tamil for the Western Province). The 23 territorial constituencies were distributed as follows:
- Central Province 2
- Eastern Province 2
- Northern Province 5
- North Central Province 1
- North Western Province 2
- Sabaragamuwa Province 2
- Southern Province 3
- Uva Province 1
- Western Province 5
The head of the Legislative Council had been the Governor, but the new reforms created the post of President of the Legislative Council, which was held by the Governor on a nominal basis, and the Vice President of the Legislative Council was elected, who was James Peiris. Four non-official members were also selected to be part of the Executive Council.
Replacement
Due to the shortcomings of the Second Manning Reforms the Donoughmore Commission was sent to Ceylon. The Commission gained its name from the royal commission under the Earl of Donoughmore that came to Ceylon in 1927. Its recommendations led to Ceylon gaining limited self-government and the replacement of the Legislative Council with the State Council of Ceylon in 1931.
Members of the Legislative Council
President
The President of the council is the Governor of Ceylon.
Official members
Official members included permanent or acting office holders:
- Colonial Secretary of Ceylon
- General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
- Attorney General of Ceylon
- Auditor General of Ceylon
- Treasurer of Ceylon
- Government Agent, Western Province
- Government Agent, Central Province
- Postmaster General of Ceylon
- Principal Collector of Customs
Unofficial members
Burgher
Chamber of Commerce
Planting member
Educated Ceylonese
European
Indian Tamil
Kandyan Sinhalese
Low Country Sinhalese
|
Muslim (Moor)
Sinhalese
Tamil
Territorial
|
References
- Rajasingham, K. T. "Chapter 2: Beginning of British Rule". SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY. Archived from the original on 2001-08-27.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "First taste of representative government". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 18 March 2007.
- ^ Did Donoughmore make a serious mistake?
- ^ Cyrene Siriwardhana, Sri Lanka Law College Entrance Examination Course Book,(The Incorporated Council of Legal Education/Sri Lanka Law College, 1998), 26.
- ^ a b c d e f g WIJESINHA, Sam (26 June 2009). "Felix in Parliament and at Parliamentary Conferences". Daily News, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on June 28, 2009.
- ISBN 9781932705485.
- ^ "Sri Lankan Malays Fight For Parliament Representation". Colombo Telegraph. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
- ISBN 9789047432173. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "D. S. Senanayake". The Island, Sri Lanka. 22 October 2000.
- ^ "The London Gazette". The London Gazette (26981): 3858. 24 June 1898.
- ^ "The London Gazette". The London Gazette (27578): 4589. 21 July 1903.
- ^ "The London Gazette". The London Gazette (27894): 1793. 13 March 1906.
- ^ "The London Gazette". The London Gazette (28587): 1659. 15 March 1912.
- ^ CEYLON'S BATTLE, The Straits Times (13 November 1929) Retrieved 2 November 2015
- ^ Traversed new paths making History, Ananda E. Goonesinha (The Island) Retrieved 2 November 2015