Funday Times

Gaveshaka introduces more patriots
Working towards reform
A feature in the early days of the 20th century was the rising of an educated middle class, determined to get back the country’s freedom by constitutional means. One of the up and coming leaders of the reform movement was James Peiris (1856-1930), who had a distinguished career at Cambridge University studying Moral Philosophy and Law. He had the distinction of being the first Asian to be President of the Cambridge Union Society.

In 1908, he prepared a memorandum demanding the reform of the Legislative Council by the abolition of racial representation and the introduction of the principle of electing members. He pointed out that although the country has undergone a complete change over the years, the fundamental principles of the constitution of 1833 had remained unchanged. During a visit to London that year, he met and discussed with the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies the political needs of the country.

James Peiris (later Sir) was supported by Ponnambalam Arunachalam (later Sir), who was also an eminent Cambridge University product. Both had influential friends among the ruling class in England. A brother of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, he held several posts in the government service until he resigned in 1913 and proceeded to England to specialize in social service work. He established the Social Service Front (1915) and the Ceylon Reform League (1917).

The agitation initiated by Peiris and Arunachalam resulted in a change in the Legislative Council when it was decided that members to represent the European and Burgher communities and a new member for the Educated Ceylonese should be elected. The reformed Legislative Council met on 16 January 1912. The first elected representative of the Educated Ceylonese was Ponnambalam Ramanathan (later Sir) who received 1645 votes against Dr. H. Marcus Fernando (981 votes).

As we had seen earlier, the 1915 riots was the turning point in the country’s constitutional history. The brutality with which the riots were suppressed made everyone realise the need to unite and fight for the reform of the constitution. Among the associations taking a prominent role was the Ceylon National Association, which had been started on the initiative of Charles de Soysa, a leading businessman and philanthropist of the day. (His statue has been erected at the Lipton Circus roundabout, Eye Hospital junction). D R Wijewardene had been elected Secretary in October 1913 marking the latter’s entry into politics after his return to Ceylon in 1912 having had his higher education at Cambridge University and gaining a degree in Law. He was to render a yeoman service through the newspapers he established towards gaining independence.

When the Ceylon Reform League was formed in 1917 Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was elected President with W A de Silva and D R Wijewardene as Joint Secretaries. Following two national conferences under the joint auspices of the Reform League and the National Association, the Ceylon National Congress (CNC) was born in December 1919. Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam became its first President. The inaugural meeting saw representatives of all communities being present. Definite proposals for the reform of the constitution was adopted unanimously on a proposal made by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan. But the response from the British Government was not favourable.

By end 1922, James Peiris who was by then leader of the Unofficial members of the Legislative Council, left for England to press for reforms. The result was a new Constitution, which created the post of Vice-President of the Council. Sir James Peries was elevated to the post of Speaker and D B Jayatilaka became the leader of the Unofficial members..

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