CO882-10 — Page 366

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

CO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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3. That the Executive Council should consist of the Governor as President assisted by official and unofficial members, of whom not less than half should be Ceylonese unofficials chosen from the elected members of the Legislative Council. With the view of affording them administrative experience, such Ceylonese mem- bers should be made responsible for the administration of Departments placed in their charge.

4. That the Governor should be one who has had parliamentary experience and training in the public life of England, the better to fit him to discharge the duties of a constitutional ruler and to help in the smooth working of the political machinery under the altered conditions.

At an Extraordinary Session held at Colombo on the 15th and 16th October, 1920. This Congress rejects as utterly inadequate and reactionary and as an affront to the people of Ceylon the Scheme of Reform enacted by the Order in Council pub- lished in the Ceylon Government Gazette of the 23rd September, 1920, which, under the guise of extending popular election and control, seriously curtails the powers of the Legislative Council, increases the autocratic powers of the Governor, restricts freedom of discussion and control over the Executive, imposes humiliating dis- abilities on the people's representatives, introduces invidious distinctions between communities. creates special representation and denies even the beginning of responsible government.

At a Session held in Colombo on the 18th December, 1920.

1.

In view of the assurances of the Government contained in the memorandum of the 6th December, 1920 (vide Appendix B), signed by the Honourable Mr. H. C. Gollan, Attorney-General, and submitted this day to the Congress by the President, this Congress recommends participation in the elections under the Order in Council, unsatisfactory as it is, in order to utilize the opportunity now assured to the Con- gress of shaping the new Constitution and of working for the early realization of the full Congress demands on reforms.

2.

This Congress recommends that the country do return as members of the Legis- lative Council only those candidates who, while accepting the assurances of the Government contained in the memorandum of 6th December, 1920, signed by Honourable Mr. H. C. Gollan, Attorney-General. pledge themselves :—

I. To support zealously the policy of the Congress as to the constitution and powers of the Legislative and the Executive Councils as laid down in the first resolution of the Ceylon National Congress held in December, 1919.

II. To exert themselves to secure, inter alia, amendments of the Order in Council in the following particulars:→→

(i) As regards qualification of members:

(a) The residential qualification to be abolished.

(b) Disqualification by reason of dismissal from Government service to be

eliminated.

(c) As regards disqualification by reason of imprisonment, the same pro- visions to apply as exist in England for Members of Parliament.

(ii) As regards qualification of voters :

(a) Imprisonment not to be a disqualification after the period of

imprisonment.

(b) Qualifying period of residence to be reduced from one year to 6 months. (c) Franchise to be widened by the reduction of the property and the

income qualifications.

(iii) Rule 11 of Schedule 3 to be amended so as to empower members to put supplementary questions.

(iv) Rules 60 and 61 in Schedule 3 regarding limitation of discussion to be omitted.

(v) Power to be vested in members to move the adjournment of the Council. to discuss urgent matters.

(vi) The Governor's power to suspend unofficial nominated members (in case any should be appointed) to be eliminated.

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III. To a redistribution of electoral areas and re-allotment of seats on a basis of population, literacy, etc., securing adequate representation and a substantial elected majority.

IV. To the abolition of all Communal and Special electorates and their inclusion in the General Territorial Electorate.

3.

This Congress recommends to the Government that, when the constitutional reforms promulgated by the Order in Council are revised next year, the Northern Province of this Island be granted three seats in the Legislative Council instead of the one seat now allotted, in view of the importance and special claims of the Province based on the literacy and enlightenment of its population, the number of its registered voters (which is 13,380 in the District of Jaffna so far registered and almost equal to that of the whole of the Western Province) and on the distance of the Northern Province from the seat of Government.

4.

This Congress supports the demand of the Kandyan Singhalese for the elective franchise and their incorporation in the general Territorial Electorate, with ade- quate provision to secure, for a limited period, the return of at least three Kandyans to the Legislative Council.

5.

This Congress supports the demand of the Mohammedans of Ceylon for the elective franchise and their incorporation in the general Territorial Electorate, with adequate provision to secure, for a limited period. the return of at least two Mohammedans to the Legislative Council.

8.

This Congress supports the demand of the Indians in Ceylon for the elective franchise and their incorporation in the General Territorial Electorate, with ade- quate provision to secure, for a limited period, the return of at least one Indian to the Legislative Council.

At the Session held at Colombo on the 22nd and 23rd December, 1921. RESOLUTION I.

This Congress re-affirms the principles contained in Resolution I of Congress of December, 1919, and demands—

1. That the Legislative Council should consist of about 50 members, of whom a substantial majority should be elected according to territorial divisions upon a wide male franchise, and a restricted female franchise, and the Council should elect its own Speaker:

2. That the Legislative Council should continue to have full control over the Budget, and there should be no division of reserved and transferred subjects:

3. That the Executive Council should consist of the Governor as President assisted by official and unofficial members of whom not less than half should be unofficials chosen from the members of the Legislative Council elected according to territorial divisions, such members to be responsible for the administration of departments placed in their charge.

RESOLUTION 2.

This Congress repeats the demand of the Congress of December, 1920, that the residential qualification for the members of the Legislative Council be abolished.

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