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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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No: 28.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 10th February, 1919.)
Ceylon, 10th January, 1919.
(No. 12.) SIR,
I HAVE the honour to transmit a letter, dated 20th December, 1918, with copies of its enclosures, which has been addressed to you by the Honorary Secretaries of a "National Conference" held at Colombo on the 13th and 14th December, 1918, to consider the question of constitutional reforms in this Colony.
2. I propose in due course to submit my remarks upon the resolutions as passed at the Conference in question, and generally upon the Conference itself.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure in No. 28.
W. H. MANNING,
Governor, &c.
Ceylon Reform League, Colombo,
SIR.
Ceylon, 20th December, 1918. We have the honour to inform you that a National Conference, attended by delegates from all parts of the island, was held at the Public Hall, Colombo, on the 13th and 14th of this month, and unanimously passed the resolutions of which copies are annered for your favourable consideration (Annexure “ A ");
2. A copy of the first resolution was on the 17th instant cabled by the President of the Conference, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, to you and to the Private Secretary of His Majesty the King, and the substance of the other resolutions to you, as per Annexure "B."
The Right Honourable
We have, &c.,
W. A. DE SILVA,
D. R. WIJEWARDENE,
Walter H. Long, M.P., LL.D..
Honorary Secretaries of the Ceylon National Conference, 1918.
His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for the Colonies, London.
ANNEXURE "A.”
RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS AT COLOMBO ON THE 13th and 14th DeceMBER, 1918.
I. THIS Conference tenders its loyal homage to His Majesty the King and respectfully submits its joyful congratulations upon the success of the British and Allied arms in overthrowing the Central Powers and in upholding the British ideals of liberty, self-development and self-determination for all peoples, great and small.
II. This Conference is of opinion that the system of Crown Colony adminis- tration which has prevailed in this island for over a hundred years is unsuited to its needs and conditions and inconsistent with British ideals, hinders the development and progress of the people, and is detrimental to their welfare; and that a reform of the constitution and administration is imperatively required, and a vigorous development of self-governing institutions, with a view to the realization of responsible government in the country as an integral part of the British Empire. III. This Conference is of opinion that reforms, more liberal than those deemed necessary for India by the Secretary of State for India and the Viceroy, and set forth in their report of 22nd April, 1918, should be immediately granted to Ceylon which, while akin to India in race and culture, has conditions more favourable for political development.
39
IV. That the Legislative Council of Ceylon should be enlarged and reconstituted so as to contain a substantial majority of members elected upon the basis of a territorial electorate with a broad franchise, with due safeguards for minorities.
V. That the Executive Council of Ceylon should be so reformed that half the number of its members shall be Ceylonese elected members of the Legislative Council, who shall be in charge of Departments.
VI. That a proportion of not less than thirty-three per cent., increasing annually by two per cent. up to seventy-five per cent., of the higher appointments in the Ceylon Civil Service and other branches of the public service should be filled by Ceylonese.
VII. That there should be complete popular control of Municipal Councils and other local bodies in Ceylon, urban and rural, with elected Chairmen and elected majorities.
VIII. That a permanent organization be formed for the purpose of co- ordinating public opinion and political thought and work in Ceylon by periodically convoking a representative Congress and carrying out its resolutions.
IX. That a Committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number, be appointed to draft the rules and constitution of the said organization, viz. :—
1. Abeywardene, G. E. 2. Arulanandan, M. A.
3. Arunachalam, Sir P.
4. Cader, M. B. Abdul
5. Corea, C. E.
6. Crowther, S. J. K.
7. De Mel, H. L.
8. De Silva, E. T.
9. De Silva, J. W. (Colombo)
10. De Silva, J. W. (Panadure)
11. De Silva, W. A.
12. De Souza, Armand
13. De Soysa, L. W. A.
14. De Zoysa, Francis
15. Dias, C. P.
16. Fernando, Honourable Dr. H. M.
17. Godamune, P. B.
18. Halangoda, John A. 19. Jayawardene, A. St. V. 20. Kanagasabai, Sir A.
21. Obeyesekera, F. A.
22. Peiris, James
23. Rajapakse, W. M.
24. Ratnam, Dr. E. V.
23. Sabapathy, Honourable Mr. A.
26. Samerawickrame, E. J.
27. Sandrasagara, H. A. P.
28. Senanayeke, D. C.
29. Senanayeke, F. R.
30. Wickremasinghe, A. A. 31. Wijewardene, D. R. 32. Wille. G. A.
X. This Conference authorizes the Committee appointed under the last resolution to nominate two or more gentlemen to proceed to England, when deemed necessary by the Committee, as delegates of this Conference, and submit to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and to the British Parliament and people the urgent need for reforming the constitution and administration of Ceylon and take all measures necessary for the purpose of procuring such reform.
XI. That copies of the first resolution be forwarded to the Private Secretary of His Majesty the King, and copies of all the resolutions to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies and to His Excellency the Governor.
ANNEXURE "B." Cable 1.
TO (1) PRIVATE SECRETARY HIS MAJESTY THE KING. (2) SECRETARY STATE COLONIES, LONDON.
BEG submit following resolution passed Ceylon National Conference, held Colombo 13th December. This Conference tenders loyal homage His Majesty the "King, and respectfully submits joyful congratulations success British Allied arms overthrowing Central Powers and upholding British ideals, liberty, self-development, self-determination all nations, great and small.-SIR P. ARUNACHALAM (President, Ceylon National Conference).
Cable II.
TO SECRETARY STATE COLONIES, LONDON.
CEYLON National Conference, held Colombo 13-14th December, passed enthusiastic resolution tendering loyal homage His Majesty and joyful congratu- lations success British Allied arms. Other resolutions passed asserting present
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