Governor Horton begins era of reforms

"Ceylon is one of the loveliest spots in the universe, if some of the old Dutch laws were done away, among which, in my judgement, the chief are the monopoly of cinnamon, and the compulsory labour of the peasants on the high roads, and in other species of corvees. The Candian (Kandyan) provinces, where neither of these exists, seemed to me the most prosperous parts of the country." These comments were made in a letter dated April 1, 1826 written by Reginald Heber, Bishop of Calcutta to the Under Secretary of the War and the Colonies in the British Government. Five years later, Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, the Under Secretary, assumed duties as the Governor of Ceylon. He arrived on October 23, 1831.

Governor Sir Robert Wilmot Horton

Just before he was appointed Governor, the Colebrooke Commission had recommended far reaching reforms and it was Horton's task to see that these were implemented. He himself, as a Liberal, took a great interest in social reform. He was directed to set up an Executive Council of five and a Legislative Council of 15 as recommended by the Colebrooke Commission. The Executive Council replaced the Governor's Council and could debate and vote on all matters brought before it by the Governor. It could, however, meet only when summoned by the Governor. The Legislative Council had nine officials and six unofficial members. The latter were to be nominated by the Governor to represent the Ceylonese and the Europeans. Horton was not happy about these representatives claiming that there wasn't anyone fit to hold such office. In fact, when the Legislative Council met for the first time on October 1, 1833, there were only officials present. Later the unofficial members were appointed.

No more forced labour
On instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Governor Horton implemented another recommendation by the Colebrooke Commission to abolish forced labour. On April 12, 1832, the King issued an order-in-council declaring that, "none of His Majesty's native or Indian subjects in the island of Ceylon shall be liable to render any service in respect of the tenure of land or in respect of his caste or otherwise, to which His Majesty's other subjects of European birth and descent are not liable, any law or custom or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding."

'Diving for fishing' - a photograph in the Ceylon Observer Centenary Supplement

Other reforms followed. In May 1832 the law against Moors and Chettiars owning land in Colombo was repealed. The cinnamon monopoly held by the Government was abolished. Judicial reforms included the vesting of administration of justice on the Supreme Court and in district courts. Trial by jury was extended to the whole island.

In the sphere of education, a Board of Education was set up in 1834, as recommended by the Commission. The Colombo Academy (later renamed Royal College) was started in 1834. The Catholics started an English school with Government aid.

A significant feature during Horton's tenure was the huge successes of the pearl fisheries. This enabled him to record surpluses in the government budget, and so to undertake road construction.

Governor Horton's administration ended in 1837 and he was succeeded by J. A. Stewart Mackenzie (1837-41).

Keppetipola Dissave arrested

Keppetipola Dissave who took over the leadership of the rebellion against the British in 1817-18 was arrested on October 28, 1818 near Nuvara Kalaviya. When the rebellion started in a remote part of Uva , he was Dissave of Uva and later decided to join the rebels and assume leadership.

After the rebellion was crushed and he was arrested, he was court marshalled and convicted. He was beheaded at Bogambara in Kandy a month later.