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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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CO. 882/10
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reaching reforms recently introduced there, giving to that community representa- tion in the Imperial as well as Provincial Legislative Councils out of all proportion to their population, such a concession in favour of the Mohammedans having been willingly agreed to by the Hindu majority.
14. The Tamils as represented by the Jaffna Association refused to join and co-operate with the Ceylon National Conference held in December 1918 in Colombo, which developed in the following year into the Ceylon National Congress, as they were afraid that by consenting to unqualified territorial representation they would be swamped by the Singhalese majority. It was after a letter of assurance sent to the Jaffna Association dated 7th December, 1918, through Sir. P. Arunachalam, who was President of that Conference, signed by the Honourable Mr. James Peiris and Mr. E. J. Samarawickrame, as Presidents of the Ceylon National Association and the Ceylon Reform League, respectively, pledging themselves to accept any scheme which the Jaffna Association may put forward as long as it is not incon- sistent with the various principles contained in the Resolutions (of the Con- ference)
and to actively support a provision for the reservation of a seat to the Tamils in the Western Province so long as the electorate remains territorial," the Jaffna Association joined the reform moventent, in the hope that the constitu- tional reforms asked for would not only maintain the proportion of Singhalese and Tamil representation in the Legislative Council as existed then, but also promote the general welfare of the whole Island. A copy of the letter in question is hereto annexed* for Your Excellency's information.
15. It will be seen from the Memorial of the Jaffna Association, addressed to the Right Honourable Sir Walter Long, the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 2nd January, 1918, that that Association was not opposed to the introduction of territorial representation, but prayed that by a combination of territorial and communal representation the proportion of Tamil representation to Singhalese repre- sentation should. as far as possible, be maintained. The present proportion of Tamil representation in the new Council is, therefore, a great disappointment and a real grievance to the Tamils.
16. The Memorialists humbly venture to think that it was on the basis of that memorial the Right Honourable Lord Milner, the late Secretary of State for the Colonies, insistently put the question to the Ceylon Reform Deputation that waited on him, headed by Mr. H. J. C. Pereira, K.C., as to what provision that Deputation was disposed to suggest under the territorial system for the adequate representa- tion of a large and important community which was in a minority. This question was not answered by the Deputation.
17. The Memorialists would invite Your Excellency's kind attention to the speeches made in the course of the Reform debate by the two Representatives of the Tamils in the Legislative Council on the 11th December, 1918, under Your Excel- lency's presidency, to show that the Tamils have always in joining the reform move- ment insisted on the then proportion of Tamil to Singhalese representation being maintained. Mr. K. Balasingham, the first Tamil Member, said: "I wish to bring to Your Excellency's notice that the Tamils desire that whether under a territorial or racial basis of representation, there should be the existing proportion of repre- sentation between the two principal races maintained in any reformed Council." Mr. A. Sapapathy, the second Tamil Member, said: "The Tamils of the Northern and Eastern Provinces which contain the vast majority of the permanent Tamil population claim to have a number of representatives in this Council under the new reforms, in the same proportion as the existing Singhalese and Tamil representation The claims of the Tamils to maintain a larger proportion of representa- tion than they are entitled to by their numerical strength and the reasons for those claims are fully set forth in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Memorial of the Jaffna Association to the Secretary of State dated 2nd January, 1918. "
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18. The Ceylon National Congress Committee, composed of a majority of Sinhalese gentlemen, including those who gave the pledge above referred to in paragraph 14 of this memorial, are not now disposed to carry out that pledge. especially in regard to "a Reserved Seat to the Tamils in the Western Province." The Tamils have, therefore, decided at the meeting of the Tamil Mahajana Sabhai held on the 15th August, 1921. to take independent action by approaching Your Excellency and asking you to grant them adequate representation in the Legislative Council when the constitution is revised, maintaining the proportion of their repre- sentation in the old Council as they have all along claimed.
Enclosure in No. 29.
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19. The Tamil Mahajana Sabhai further humbly submits that not only for proper allocation of seats to maintain the proportion asked for, but also for due representation of Tamil interests reserved seats for them in the City of Colombo and the Central Province on a territorial basis, are necessary-places which contain a prosperous permanent Tamil population.
20. Some of the most permanent, influential and wealthy Tamils are to be found in the city of Colombo, as Landed Proprietors, Government Officers, Lawyers, Medical men, Brokers, Shroffs, and in various other capacities, including members of the Colombo Chetty community who are descendants of Tamils settled in the Western Province some centuries ago and have been holding high and responsible positions under the Government. The Memorialists respectfully point out that. while all other communities in the Metropolis of this Island are sure to be repre- sented in the Legislature by territorial or communal representation, the Tamils alone should not be left to the chance of one of them being elected by the Sinhalese majority, which cannot in the existing circumstances and in view of recent experience of territorial elections, be depended upon to choose a Tamil in preference to a Sinhalese, although, under different circumstances, a Tamil in the person of Sir P. Ramanathan was elected for the "Ceylonese" seat by an English educated electorate composed of 1,748 Sinhalese and 1,346 Tamil voters.
21. The Tamil Mahajana Sabhai submits for Your Excellency's favourable consideration at the next revision of the constitution the following scheme of allocation of unofficial Legislative Council Seats:-
Reserved.
Terri
Proviaces.
torial
Bingbal. Tamil. European.
Indian
Burgher.
Moham
Ges.
madan.
Kandyan. Total.
1
1
1
I
1*
City of Colombo...
Western ...
3
Central
2
Southern ...
3
North Western
2
Sabragamuwa
1
Uve
North Central
Northern...
Fastern
3
22
1
9
J
2
3
* Tamil.
Total
6
3
7
5
8
2
}
8
1
6
4
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If the Europeans, Burghers, Mohammedans or the Indians wish to have communal electorates, they may be allowed to have such electorates, leaving to them to distribute the Seats allowed to them in this Scheme in any manner they choose.
The Memorialists beg respectfully to submit that the Tamil Mahajana Sabhai does not like strictly to adhere to this Scheme in regard to the total number of all Members of the Legislative Council, but humbly urges on Your Excellency's Government the justice of restoring the proportion of Tamil representation to Singhalese representation as stated in the resolution of the Sabhai quoted in para- graph 2 of this Memorial.
22. The Memorialists beg further to point out that in a Council composed of Representatives of various races and communities on the Unofficial side, the Members belonging to any single community should not be allowed to have a predominant voice in its deliberations as against Unofficial Members of all other Ceylonese communities combined.
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23. The Memorialists tender to Your Excellency their respectful and sincere thanks for your intention to recommend an early revision of the constitution. They
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