Fonds LK-NA/3 - Legislative Council of Ceylon

The Colebrooke Commission Report of 24.12.1831 recommended the establishment of the Legislative Council and the council was established on 28.09.1833 by an Order-in-Council. The Council consisted of 9 official members. The Official members were the Governor, the Colonial Secretary, Officer Commanding the Troops in Ceylon, the Chief Justice, the Auditor – General, the Treasurer, the Government Agents of the Western and Central Provinces, the surveyor-General and the Collector of Customs. Governor nominated the unofficial members and One half of them were to be natives. These nominations were subject to the conformation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
In 1889 the number of unofficial members was increased from 6 to 8. These two additional members were selected from Kandyan Sinhalese and Moors. The Legislative Council of 1910 consisted of 11 official members and 10 unofficial members. Out of the 10 unofficial members 4 were to be elected while the remaining six were to be nominated to represent various social groups.
The composition of the Legislative Council was changed in 1920 on the recommendation of the Manning reforms. It comprised of 14 official members and 23 un-official members. The order in-council of 1923, further enlarged the membership of the Legislative Council. By increasing the number of official members to 12 and unofficial members to 37. Its first meeting was held on 15.10.1924.
These constitutional reforms did not meet the requirements of the Ceylon National Congress or the other organizations which were agitating for constitutional reforms. Therefore, the British Colonial government appointed the Donoughmore Commission on 06.08.1927 to inquire into the problem of constitutional reforms. This Commission recommended the establishment of the State Council by abolishing the Legislative Council. The recommendation of the Donoughmore Commission were implemented by an Order in – Council in 1931.