The shortest Parliament in history

Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake announces the dissolution of Parliament to newspapermen.

The first meeting of the Fourth Parliament in independent Sri Lanka was held on March 30, 1960. The number of Members to the House of Representatives had increased by 56 – 145 electoral districts returning 151 members. (Earlier 89 constituencies returned 95 members). For the first time the general election ( March 19) had been held in one day.

With the United National Party wining the most number of seats (50) as a single party (as against Sri Lanka Freedom Party's 46 in a closely contested election), the UNP leader Dudley Senanayake was invited to form the government.

However, the government faced its first test at the election of the Speaker at the first meeting. The nominee of the Government, Sir Albert Peiris lost to the Opposition candidate T. B. Subasinghe – 60 votes to 93. Sir Albert had been Speaker from February 1951 until February 1956 without a break having succeeded Sir Francis Molamure who died while serving as Speaker of the First Parliament.

However, T. B. Subasinghe's stint as Speaker was the shortest in history (just three weeks), when he had to move out following the dissolution of Parliament on April 23, 1960. It was due to the defeat of the Government when the Opposition moved an amendment to the ‘Speech from the Throne’ outlining the government's programme of work. The Opposition proposed a common amendment to be included at the end of the Address: "….. regretting your Excellency's Government does not command the confidence of this House." It was carried by a majority of 25 votes – 86 voting for the amendment and 61 against.

The country faced a general election within a short space of just four months. July 20 was fixed as election-day.

Examining the plight of Buddhists

Professor Gunapala Malalasekera

The appointment of a Committee of Inquiry by the All-Ceylon Buddhist Congress on April 2, 1954 to look into the plight of Buddhists turned out to be a landmark event in the contemporary history of Sri Lanka. When the government of the day turned a deaf ear to the appeal for the appointment of a commission to look into the grievances of Buddhists, the Congress President, Professor Gunapala Malalasekera gave an assurance that the Congress would appoint its own body. Thus was born the Committee of Inquiry which came to be known as the 'Buddhist Commission.'

The Committee's task was to look into the prevailing conditions in the country and to recommend how an environment could be created for Buddhists to lead a life based on Buddhist principles. A questionnaire consisting of 71 questions was prepared and distributed throughout the country. Replies received were 1713. The Committee held 37 public hearings in principal towns and the response was most encouraging with over 2,500 laity and the clergy giving evidence.

The exhaustive Committee report was presented to the public at a meeting held at Ananda College on February 4, 1956. Starting with the recommendation that the country should be made a Republic within the British Commonwealth of Nations, the Committee made a series of proposals under several headings. These included Religion, Education, Contemporary Society, Social Service, Plight of the Bhikkhus, Administration of temple property and Pirivena education.

With the dissolution of Parliament soon after, the Buddhist Congress presented a document to all political parties requesting that the recommendations be implemented. The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna led by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was the only party which accepted it. The party romped to a massive victory at the general election held in April 1956. A resurgence of Buddhism and indigenous culture was noticed after the new government assumed office.