CO882-10 — Page 398

383

2-00131

»--Т----1----1----1---9--Ta-7-----7---9~~-Ÿ'

104

Since Mohammedan representations in the past had applied to all sections of Moslems, irrespective of the country of origin and the language customarily spoken, it may be pointed out that the increase in number from one to three will be a sub- stantial advance in the measure of representation enjoyed by persons professing the Mohammedan faith, and will give a section of the Indian population the benefit of direct representation. The Association does not see any insuperable difficulty in the creation of Mohammedan electorates, and it suggests that the community equally with other sections of the permanent population enjoy the franchise.

The Association recommend the continuation of the present arrangement which gives the Low Country Products Association the advantage of direct representation. In the absence of a special ministry for commerce and industry the Government is bound to derive great assistance from the advice and informed criticism which members representing the Low Country Products Association, the Chamber of Com- merce, Indian Commerce, Immigrant Labour, and the Planting interest will be in a position to tender. This plan will yield a clear majority of twelve territorially elected members over other unofficials and officials, thus ensuring direct popular control over the Legislature.

The Association suggest that the official side of the Council be represented by the following officials:-

(1) The Officer Commanding the Troops.

(2) The Colonial Secretary.

(3) The Attorney General.

(4) The Principal Collector of Customs.

(5) The Treasurer.

(8) The Controller of Revenue.

(7) The President Local Government Board.

(8) The Director of Education.

Western Province

Northern Province

Southern Province

Central Province

North Western Province

Province of Sabaragamuwa

The

Eastern Province

The Association is opposed to the nomination of any unofficial members, whose position in Council as constituted under this scheme will be anomalous.

Council will, according to these proposals herein embodied, consist of fifty members, of whom eight will be officials, eleven members will represent communities and special interests and thirty-one members will be elected on a territorial basis. The Association feels it will be more in keeping with the dignity of the King's repre- sentative if he abstains from presiding over the Legislative Council, and if a President elected or nominated conducts the business of the body as in the Provincial and Central Councils of India.

The Association suggests that one of the three seats allotted to the City of Colombo be reserved for Tamils domiciled in the Western Province, and in respect of all other Provincial seats the residential qualification be removed in order to permit any suitable candidate having interests in any particular district, but settled outside it, to be elected to represent a constituency where within that constituency there is no resident member who can command the suffrage of the people.

The Association respectfully submits the above proposals for your indulgent consideration and feels sure that they will prove acceptable to all sections of the population. The scheme while satisfying the aspiration of the people for a larger share in the management of public affairs confers on the people a wide measure of responsibility in preparation for the ideal of dominion status earnestly aimed at.

For and on behalf of the Colombo Tamil Association----

E. V. RATNAM,

President. ALFRED M. CHITTAMBALAM,

Honorary Secretary.

257

North Central Province Province of Uva Europeans

Mohammedans

Burghers Indians

105

APPENDIX A.

Low Country Products Association Officials

City of Colombo Colombo District Kalutara District

Town of Jafina Jaffna District Mannar Mullaitivu

Town of Galle Galle District Matara District

Hambantota District

Town of Kandy Kandy District Matale District Nuwara Eliya District Kurunegalle Chilaw District Puttalam District

Ratnapura District Kegalle District

Batticaloa District Trincomalie District

Urban European Rural European Chamber of Commerce

Ceylon Moors

Indian Moslems

Malays

Commerce Labour

Total

Colombo, 25th November, 1922.

Please address reply to:-

The Hon. Secretary,

Colombo Tamil Association,

Fairfield Gardens,

Cotta Road, Colombo.

No. 50.

TLIIT

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference:

882 /10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON, ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1st January, 1923.)

(Confidential.)

Ceylon, 5th December, 1922.

MY LORD Duke,

WITH reference to my despatch No. 689 of even date,* Your Grace will no doubt consult Sir William Manning on the subject of the memorial from the Colombo Tamil Association I will only observe, therefore, that the total number of regis tered voters in this Colony is 55,231, while the total number of males in Ceylon of

* No. 49.

106