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by 3 seats, the Central by 2 seats, the North-Western, the North-Central, Uva and Sabaragamuwa by 1 each, which, being all inhabited mainly by the Singhalese, will give them (Low Country and Kandyan) 13 seats. Owing to the greater prevalence now of race bias and other forms of party feeling, there is little chance of non- Singhalese candidates being elected in Singhalese districts. It will be noted that, of the 3 European members. Mr. Peiris said: "I have to confess that I am to a certain extent disappointed that. in the frequent conferences we had in regard to the proposals which I had the honour to submit to the House, we were not able to come to an understanding with my honourable friend who represents the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rural and Urban Members." This inability to understand the just needs of others, combined with party spirit has made a big rift in the Singhalese community itself, for the Kandyan Singhalese and the Low Country Singhalese have become political opponents. The former section fears that attempts are being made by Low Country leaders to turn away the Kandyans from their natural leaders, and that. if the Kandyans are included in the general territorial electorates, they will not be able to win their fair share of seats. According to the Census taken in 1921, it appears that in Ceylon there are 1,929,000 Low Country Singhalese and 1,088,000 Kandyan Singhalese, and that their distribution in the different provinces is as stated in the following tables :- Low Country Singhalese.

1,006,000

Provinces.

Western

Southern

Central

North-Western

North-Central

Uva

Sabaragamuwa

Northern

Eastern

Total

Kandyan Singh alese.

12,200

631.000

1,800

56.300

316,000

165.000

255,000

6,000

67,000

12,200

125,000

48,500

304,000

1,640

2.400

2,500 4,500

1,929,040

1,088,000

This table shows that the Kandyan Singhalese predominate in five provinces, and the Low-country Singhalese in two provinces only. Southern Provinces there are 1.637,000 Low Country Singhalese and 14,000 In the Western and Kandyans; and in the Central. North-Western, North-Central, Uva and Sabara- gamuwa Provinces there are 1,066.000 Kandyans and 286,000 Low Country Singhalese. According to this distribution of the Singhalese population, the 13 seats appropriated to them should be held by 8 Low Country Singhalese and 5 Kandyan Singhalese. But this is a matter which must be adjusted by the Singhalese themselves. We have no concern with the ratios between the Low Country seats and the Kandyan seats. But we emphatically state that the principles of adequate representation and the balancing of power in the interests of good government do not admit of more than 13 seats out of 45 being given to the whole body of the Singhalese.

We do not recommend a seat for the town of Colombo, because in the present Council, in which 3 seats have been allotted to the Western Province, Colombo has the privilege of being the residence of ten members of Council, namely, 4 Singhalese, 2 Europeans, 2 Burghers, 1 Mohammedan, and 1 Indian.

We are further convinced that 4 seats are required for the adequate representa- tion of the Northern Province, and 2 for the Eastern Province, which are mainly occupied by the Tamils. As a large body of enterprising Tamils of those two Pro- vinces have settled in Colombo town and other parts of the Western Province, and are engaged there in various professional and industrial pursuits, it is necessary to aafeguard the interests of this body by other than territorial representation, of which we shall speak later on when we come to the subject of communally elected members. With auch a communally elected seat for this body of Tamils, there would be 7 seats in all for the whole Tamil community.

As regards the Mohammedans settled permanently in Ceylon, and known from the days of the Portuguese as “Ceylon Moors," the Census shows that they are dis- tributed as follows: In the Western Province 52,000, in the Central 38,500, in the Northern 12,700, in the Southern 20,600, in the Eastern 75,500, in the North-Western 27,800, in the North-Central 10,800, in Uva 6,100, and in Sabaragamuwa 12,800, making a total of 251,000 Ceylon Mohammedans. Considering how scattered they

are and how the Batticaloa Mohammedan, for instance, has isolated himself socially and economically from other sections of his community, owing to his neglect of general education, we all agree that this community needs 3 seats in Council to be elected by itself.

As regards the "Indians," among whom are many bankers, wholesale merchants, traders, men learned in the law and medicine, and a vast body of common labourers, coming mainly from South India, and going back after a stay of two or three years, they are distributed as follows :---

Western Province Central Province Northern Province

Southern Province

Eastern Province North-Western

North-Central

Uva

Sabaragamuwa

Total

92,300

284,000

4,500

12,700

2,200

23,900

4,700

82,800

99.200

606,600

It is claimed on behalf of the "Indians" that 15 per cent. of the common labourers are literate, and 10 per cent. of these have property qualification, and that most of the trading and professional men in this community will be qualified voters. We think that their adequate representation in Council demands 2 seats.

The Europeans number 8.240 persons, exclusive of the military and shipping. Their agricultural and commercial interests are of vital importance to the prosperity of Ceylon. Their representatives in Council are satisfied with the 3 seats they have, including the one elected by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce as at present.

The interests of the Burghers are now represented by one elected member and one nominated member, and we see no reason why both members should not be com munally elected, if they so desire it.

The 3 seats allotted to the Europeans, the 3 to the Mohammedans, the 2 seats to the Burghers, and the 2 to the Indians, make a total of 10 communally elected members. To these we would add one for the community of those Ceylon Tamils who have settled in Colombo and other districts of the Western Province. They are intimately connected in various ways with their kinsmen of the north, east and central provinces, who look to them for information and guidance in all matters, economic and political. Their continued residence mainly in the city of Colombo, and in Colombo district enables them to know the different currents of thought and endeavour which are commenced and shaped in metropolitan centres of activity. It is not right to leave the votes of men so intelligent, independent and useful to be swamped by the votes of the dominant Singhalese among whom they live. Their voice must be heard in the Legislature, the voice of bankers, wholesale merchants, traders, lawyers, medical men, landlords, estate owners, accountants, and clerks in Government service and in European and Ceylonese mercantile offices, etc., all able to think clearly and act straightly. One of the chief reasons which brought about the cleavage between the Singhalese and the Tamils was the retractation of the promise given by Mr. James Peiris as the President of the Ceylon National Associa- tion, and Mr. E. J. Samarawickrama as the President of the Ceylon Reform League, by their letter of 7th December, 1918, that they would pledge themselves to actively support a provision for the reservation of a seat to the Tamils of the Western Province. And in the scheme of allocation of seats adopted by the Singhalese leaders of the Congress, they gave their assurance that they would see a Tamil returned for Colombo. But the Tamils were not prepared to accept this verbal assurance, after the violation of the written pledge, and desired that legislative provision should be made to give effect to it. As the Singhalese leaders did not consent to this proposal, the Tamils as a body seceded from the Singhalese. We, the undersigned members of the Legislative Council, were able to secure the adhesion of the Tamil leaders by recognizing the importance of the Tamils settled in the Western Province. Their number, according to the Census taken in 1911, was in the Munici- pality of Colombo 15,500: in the Colombo district, including Negombo District and exclusive of the Colombo Municipality, 12,500: and in the Kalutara District 2,000, making a total of 30,000, which is larger than those who form the Burgher com- munity of the whole Island, to whom we have assigned two seats. The Ceylon

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