і
285
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with regard to a resolution passed by the Congress Committee urging that the appointment of unofficial members of the Executive Council may be deferred until the new Constitution has been revised.
2. I request that you will cause the Ceylon National Congress to be informed that the appointment of unofficial members of the Executive Council is a reform which has been long advocated, and has already been adopted in many other Colonies, and that I saw no reason to defer the appointment of such unofficial inembers pending the consideration of proposals for the further amendment of the Constitution.
I have, &c., WINSTON'S. CHURCHILL.
33638
(No. 425.) SIR,
No. 30.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6th July, 1921.)
1
Ceylon, 14th June, 1921. I HAVE the honour to inform you that the Legislative Council constituted in conformity with the Order in Council of August, 1920, was formally opened by me on 7th June.
2. As regards the nominated official members under clause 6 of the Order in Council, I have provisionally nominated the following officials, and would request that you will be so good as to submit their appointments for His Majesty's approval:-
The Hon. Mr. J. G. Fraser, C.M.G., Government Agent, Western Province. The Hon. Mr. F. Bowes, C.M.G., Principal Collector of Customs.
Mr. H. T. Creasy, Acting Director of Public Works.
Dr. G. J. Rutherford, Principal Civil Medical Officer.
Mr. E. Evans, Acting Director of Education.
Mr. M. T. Akbar, Acting Solicitor-General.
Mr. G. P. Greene, General Manager of the Railway.
Mr. F. A. Stockdale, Director of Agriculture.
Mr. H. W. Codrington, C.C.S., Commissioner
Temporalities Ordinance.
under the Buddhist
I proposed to nominate Mr. T. H. Chapman, O.B.E., Director of Public Works, and Mr. T. F. Garvin, K.C., Solicitor-General, to be official members of Council, but these officers being at present absent from the Island I have provisionally nominated Messrs. H. T. Creasy and M. T. Akbar, the officers now acting in the appointments mentioned. pending the return of Messrs. Chapman and Garvin.
3. As regards the Elected Members of the Council, in the case of the Provinces and the town of Colombo there were but five contested elections, the rest of the candidates being returned unopposed. Similarly, the seats for the European, the Burgher, and the Low-Country Products Association electorates were filled without contest. The gentlemen elected for the various constituencies are:-
European Electorate (Urban)
Commercial Electorate
North-Western Province
Low-Country Products Association Electorate
Burgher Electorate
Province of Uva
Town of Colombo Electorate
Western Province (Division A)
Eastern Province
Southern Province
Province of Sabaragamuwa
Northern Province
North-Central Province
Western Province (Division B)
Central Province
European Electorate (Rural)
Mr. H. G. Bois.
Sir J. Thomson Broom.
Mr. C. E. Corea.
Mr. H. L. de Mel.
Mr. Allan Drieberg.
Mr. D. H. Kotalawela. Mr. James Peiris. Mr. W. M. Rajapakse. Mr. E. R. Tambimuttu. Mr. O. C. Tillekeratne: Rev. W. E. Boteju. Mr. W. Duraiswamy. Mr. S. D. Krisnaratne.
Mr. E. W. Perera.
Mr. A. C. G. Wijeyekoon.
Mr. J. Graeme Sinclair.
4. Two election petitions were filed; one against the return of the Member
for the Central Province, and one against the Member for the "B" Division of
65
the Western Province. Neither of these petitions succeeded. They were heard by a Judge of the Supreme Court.
5. Under the provisions of the Order in Council, clause 6, I have provision- ally nominated the following Unoffcial Members, and would request that you will be so good as to submit these appointments for His Majesty's approval
Muhammadan Member-Mr. Noordeen Hadjiar Mohammed Abdul Cader.
Kandyan Members.-Mr. Meedeniya Rajakaruna Senanayake Pandita Herat Wasala Kuruppu Mudiyanseralahamillage John Henry Meedeniya, Adigar.
Mr. Samasta Wickrama Karunatileke Abhayawar- dana Jayasundera Mudiyanseralahamillage Pana- bokke Tikiri Banda.
Indian Member.-Mr. Esufaly Goolamhusen Adamaly.
6. I have already telegraphed to you, and obtained His Majesty's consent to
the appointment of the Unofficial Nominated Members, viz. :—
Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Kt., K.C., C.M.G.
Dr. Hilarion Marcus Fernando, M.D., B.Sc.
Mr. Arthur Alvis.
7. At the meeting of the Legislative Council, at which all the Official and Unofficial Members were present, with the exception of Mr. H. L. de Mel (Member for the Low-Country Products Association), I made a speech, copies of which I enclose.
I have, &c.,
Enclosure in No. 30.
Opening of COUNCIL.
W. H. MANNING.
Governor, &c.
His Excellency the Governor opened the Session with the following Address: HONOURABLE Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,
I DESIRE, as His Majesty's Representative in this Island, to welcome you to the first session of the Legislative Council of Ceylon inaugurated under the Order in Council of August, 1920, under which the elective principle has been considerably extended, and whereby the various Provinces of the Island are now represented in this Council by Members elected by the people-a very considerable advance upon the political system in existence here up to this date. These conditions, however, now impose upon the Elected Members a very great responsibility, which, I fully believe, they will exercise for the good of the constituencies they represent, and for the general welfare of the people of Ceylon.
The present Constitution of this Council, moreover, places in the hands of the Unofficial Members a very real power to shape the destinies of the Colony-a far greater power than they have hitherto enjoyed; and it entails a corresponding responsibility to use that power wisely and well for the furtherance of the well-being and prosperity of the Island. I have little doubt but that the power now entrusted to then will be wisely used, and it is essential that it should be recognized that, as the manner in which this very considerable step in advance in political power is utilized, so will there emerge, I trust, a condition of affairs that will eventually justify the delegation to the unofficial side of this Council of further and wider powers.
In order to dispel many doubts that seem to have arisen in regard to the Con- stitution now in force, I desire to state here to-day that all those responsible for the framing of this Constitution were anxious that it should be clearly understood that it did not lay down the last word in political advancement for this Colony, but rather that it should be considered as a stage on the road to further things; and that, by watching the results of the working of the present Constitution, we might be able to build up a Constitution for Ceylon suited to the genius of its people and to the conditions obtaining in this country. I trust, therefore, that as we proceed to the duties before us this consummation will be borne in mind, in order that with sound and moderate judgment the end aimed at may be discussed, and a wise decision as to what is best may eventually be arrived at. It should be recognized that the difficulties are many and varied, and that the aspirations of different com- munities for representation, and the form of such representation, are a problem that will require not only sympathy with the aspirants, but careful consideration of their demands and a wise discrimination in granting them.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :---
CO. 88210
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