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15. The Memorialists submit as a tentative scheme for Your Lordship's consideration the appointment of elected members to the Ceylon Legislative Council

as follows:-

The Chamber of Commerce

The Planters' Association

City of Colombo

Western Province, excluding Colombo

Central Province

Southern Province

North-Western Province

Northern Province

Eastern Province

North-Central Province

Province of Sabaragamuwa

Province of Uva

1

1

1

1

1

18

Or, in all, 18 elected members, with such safeguards as Your Lordship may deem expedient (by the addition of nominated members or otherwise) for due repre- sentation of minorities.

16. Your Memorialists firmly believe that the concession of the privileges asked for will be appreciated by the people as a just recognition of their deep and abiding loyalty to the Throne and of their advance in education and prosperity, will promote the efficiency of the administration, increase the happiness and contentment of the people, and strengthen the foundations of British Rule.

And Your Lordship's Memorialists, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

GERALD H. DE SARAM, L.R.C.P. & S. Edin. : L.F.P. & S. Glasgow,

for Chairman. HENRY L. DE MEL. Proctor, S.C., and M.M.C..

Colombo, Honorary Secretary.

Colombo, 18th March, 1909.

10.

Extracts from the Chilaw Association Memorial.

Your Memorialists humbly conceive that it is essential in order to correct such legislative blunders as the above, and to prevent similar errors in the future, that the existing form of Government should be re-formed on constitutional lines, and respectfully beg to submit that :---

(1) Racial representation and the appointment of Non-Official Members of

Council on the Governor's nomination be discontinued.

(2) The number of Official Members should not exceed that of Non-Official

Members.

(3) The Non-Official Members should be elected by the people to represent each Revenue District and each chief town of a Province. Provision may be made for more than one member to represent important centres, such as the City of Colombo, Kandy, etc.

The representation of minorities may be provided for by means of electoral associations, approved by Government, such as the Planters' Association. Chamber of Commerce, etc.

Chilaw 5th May, 1909.

JAS, C. H. SENEWIRATNE, Mudaliyar,

Chairman.

Extracts from Memorial submitted by Mr. H. J. C. Pereira on behalf of 700 leading inhabitants of Ceylon.

13. The Memorialists submit as a tentative scheme for Your Lordship's consideration the appointment of elected members to the Ceylon Legislative Council as follows:-

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The Chamber of Commerce The Planters' Association Western Province. City of Colombo The rest of the Western Province Central Province

Southern Province

Northern Province

Eastern Province

North-Western Province

North-Central Province

Province of Uva

dig

Province of Sabaragamuwa

1112222~~--- |

18

Or, in all, 18 elected members, with such safeguards as Your Lordship may

deem expedient (by the addition of nominated members or otherwise) for the due representation of minorities. Colombo, 3rd March, 1909.

APPENDIX G.

Resolution Passed at the First Session of the Ceylon National Congress held in Colombo on the 11th, 12th and 13th December, 1919.

REFORM OF The ConstituTION AND ADMINISTRATION.

THIS Congress declares that, for the better Government of the Island and the happiness and contentment of the people, and as a step towards the realization of responsible government in Ceylon as an integral part of the British Empire, the Constitution and Administration of Ceylon should be immediately reformed in the following particulars, to wit:-

1. That the Legislative Council should consist of about 50 members, of whom at least four-fifths should be elected according to territorial divisions upon a wide male franchise and a restricted female franchise, and the remaining one-fifth should consist of official members and of unofficial members to represent important minorities, and the Council should elect its own Speaker as President.

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 Ceylonese unofficials chosen from the elected members of the Legislative Council. With the view of affording them administrative experience, such Ceylonese members 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.

5.

That there should be complete popular control over the administration of local affairs in the provinces, districts, towns and villages. by a wide extension throughout the Island of Municipalities. Urban and Rural District Councils and Village Councils, with elected Chairmen and substantial majorities of elected

members.

6. That a proportion of not less than 50 per cent., rising up to 75 per cent., of the higher appointments in the Ceylon Civil Service and the other branches of the public service should be reserved for Ceylonese.

Extracts from the Ceylon Daily News, dated the 19th August, 1922.

In moving the above resolution Sir P. Ramanathan said: This is the First Annual Congress for this year :

May the December of every year see a similar Congress for the considera- tion and determination of such economic and political questions as may have developed themselves during the course of the year.