CO882-10 — Page 276

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[1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

42

by the grant of land on easy terms, the securing of markets for their produce, the provision of pasture lands for cattle which are absolutely necessary in all agricul- tural operations, and the establishment of comprehensive irrigation works such as the Batalagoda scheme, which, although opened in recent times, has abundantly proved how a wisely conceived and efficiently carried out scheme could automatically increase the prosperity of the community it serves.

(2) The immediate establishment of schools within a radius of two miles, or even less, with the controlling force of compulsion behind them. Under this head we would press for technical and commercial education, which will in a generation give an impetus to our industries which are now in a moribund condition. Also, we would suggest training in practical sanitation and hygiene, which is especially needed in the Wanni districts where the foul diseases of parangi and malaria are endemic.

(3) The average villager being an ignorant individual, and consequently" a person whose outlook is extremely circumscribed and therefore unable to protect his true interests, we submit that it will be extremely desirable that a law be enacted restraining the alienation of ancestral holdings.

In order to carry out successfully the suggestions which we have endeavoured to place before your Lordship, the employment of the more advanced members of our community in the administration of Kandyan affairs, we feel, would be extremely desirable.

In conclusion we desire to clear up the following points :-

(1) In reply to your Lordship's question as to the line an intending candidate would adopt in addressing a general electorate, we beg to state that he would natur- ally address his constituents not on a general policy, but on some subject that would appeal to a particular race or class, owing to the divergent interests which under the circumstances would exist in the constituency.

(2) This deputation expressly desires to urge the claim of the Kandyans for national recognition apart from the meaning underlying the term communal representation." In doing so, we would place before your Lordship the following facts:-

(a) That at the time the British took over the Government of the Kandyan Kingdom, the Kandyans were a nationality by themselves enjoying sovereign rights. (b) That the Convention of 1815 especially creates an obligation on the part of the British Crown to maintain and promote Kandyan nationality

This being our just claim, we would earnestly pray that in the new constitu- tion the allotment of seats in the Councils be adequate for the purpose above

indicated.

We beg to remain, &c.,

43

administration into two compartments. They are still of that opinion. But should Lord Milner deem it impracticable or inexpedient to accede to the request that the unofficial members of the Executive Council should be chosen from the elected members of the Legislative Council without a division of subjects, the deputation beg to state that the public opinion in Ceylon would consider a dyarchical system. such as has been provided for in the constitution of the Provincial Governments of India, far preferable to the nomination of non-elected unofficials to the Executive Council.

3. With regard to the claim for special representation put forward by a certain section of the Kandyan Sinhalese, the deputation would submit for Lord Milner's consideration the annexed table of figures (taken from the census of 1911) which prove that in a system of territorial representation on a wide franchise the Kandyan Sinhalese are in a position in several districts to elect their own representatives even against any combination of the other sections of the people.

In this connexion the deputation would also emphasize the fact that no political differences divide the Sinhalese people or either of the two sections of the Sinhalese (maritime and Kandyan) so as to justify any provision for special representation for either of them.

I remain, etc..

D. B. JAYATILAKA, Secretary of the Deputation

Kandy District

(exclusive of Municipality)

Enclosure in No. 11.

Low

Euro-

Kandyan Burg-Country

[Ceylon Indian (1) peans. hers Sinhalese] Finhaless. | Tamils Tamil..

Ceylon Moors.

Indian | Malays. Others. Noors.

1,045

1,018 22,449

180,564 9,806

138,461

20,001 4,288 848 618

the

Matale District Nuwara Eliya District

184

1,033

288 681

7,2 9 9,107

60,758 1,561 43,029 5,089

Kurunegala District...

101

389

46,851

281,601 8,496

31,872 93,207 10,917

5,046 1,861 309

285

1,859 1,019 406

582

11,565 1,771 548

274

Anuradhapura District

86

144

2,804

68,0235,619

2,959

9,530

521 152 1,874

Badulla District

516 622

Ratnapura District

Kegalla District

12,879 149 815 19,026 241 801 20,096

121,396 3,496

69,873

5,967 1,745

113,3581,992

151,296 2,485

25,898 57,434

2,524 547

8,901 1,278

234

609 801 622,196

784

T. B. L. MOONEMALLE. J. A. HALANGODE.

C.O.

882 /10

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

32356

SIR,

No. 11.

CEYLON REFORM DEPUTATION to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 2nd July, 1920.)

[Answered by No. 18.]

Westminster Chambers, 1, Victoria Street, S.W.1, 30th June, 1920. WHILE expressing their sincere thanks to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the courteous and sympathetic hearing he gave them on the 23rd instant, this deputation beg leave to make the following observations by way of supplementing what they submitted to his lordship on that occasion.

2. In their memorandum of 21st June, the deputation stated their objection to the nomination of unofficial members of the Executive Council from outside the circle of elected members of the Legislative Council. At the interview they gave further reasons in support of their view. They feel that the value of any measure of constitutional reform will depend very largely on the solution of this question. The National Congress has expressed itself as opposed to dyarchy, and the deputa- tion have in their memorandum stated their reasons against the division of the

* No. 8.

31808

No. 12.

COLONIAL OFFICE to MR. T. B. L. MOONEMALLE (Kandyan Deputation.)

Downing Street, 21st July, 1920.

SIR,

I AM directed by Viscount Milner to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th of June, enclosing a memorandum by the Kandyan deputation supple- menting the views expressed by the Deputation at their interview with the Secretary of State on the 22nd of June.†

Lord Milner has read the memorandum with much interest, and will give the views which it expresses the most careful consideration. He has communicated to the Government of Ceylon the representations made by the deputation as to the urgent needs of the Kandyan community in regard to agriculture, education, etc.

Lam, &c.,

G. GRINDLE.

* No. 10.

+ No. 7.

(1) NOTE. These Indian Tamils are almost entirely employed as labourers on the plantations. Only a very small minority will be entitled to vote on a franchise based on literacy or property qualification and residence.