CO882-(1-2) — Page 17

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Reference --

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT 10.

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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།། ་། ། ། །

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

سائيا سيلنسس

Reference :--

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

L-Casual nature of the Ceylon Revenue,

THE revenue of Ceylon exhibits when tabu-" lated alternate periods of surplus and desciency, influenced in a great degree by the large pro- portion in which the income is derived from fluc- tuating and almost accidental sources, such as the pearl fishery, the former monopoly of cin- namon, and the more recent sales of crown lands.

In some years, such as 1832, 1838, the pro- portion of casual to ordinary revenue rose so

high as 25, 30, and even 43 per cent., and in others it has sunk as low as 6 per cent. At the present moment, owing to the suspension of the pearl fishery, the abolition of the cinnamon mono- ply, and the comsation of the sale of crown lands, it is but 11 per cent., but would rise consider- ably in the event of a successful fishery of pearls. There is an obvious difficulty in adjusting ex- penditure under a revenue so uncertain.

And there should be proportionate` caution in making permanent additions to establishments dependent for their maintenance on such fluc- tunting sources of income.

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