The 1st State Council of Ceylon was a meeting of the State Council of Ceylon, with the membership determined by the results of the 1931 state council election held between 13 and 20 June 1931. The parliament met for the first time on 7 July 1931 and was dissolved on 7 December 1935.
Election The 1st state council election was held between 13 and 20 June 1931 in 37 of the 50 constituencies. No nominations were received in four constituencies in the north of the country due to a boycott organised by the Jaffna Youth Congress. The remaining nine constituencies only had a single nomination each and consequently the candidates were elected without a vote. The remaining nine constituencies only had a single nomination each and consequently the candidates were elected without a vote. In addition the Governor nominated eight additional members, John William Oldfield, Maurice John Cary, I. X. Pereira, M. K. Saldin, V. R. S. Schokman, Evelyn Charles Villiers, Thomas Lister Villiers and Stewart Schneider.
The new state council met for the first time on 7 July 1931 and elected A. F. Molamure, F. A. Obeysekera and M. M. Subramaniam as Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees and Deputy Chairman of Committees respectively. The seven chairman of the State Council's executive committees, who were members of the Board of Ministers, were also appointed. The State Council was ceremonially opened on 10 July 1931.
Following the end of the boycott in the north of the country by-elections were held in the four constituencies in early July 1934. The newly elected members entered the state council on 17 July 1934.
Members
Deaths, resignations and removals The 1st state council saw the following deaths, resignations and removals from office: 1931: Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu (Colombo North) unseated after being found guilty of corrupt practices by an election Judge. His wife Naysum was elected in the ensuing by-election. September 1931: Godfrey Edward Madawala (Naramala) died. W. H. de S. Jayasundara elected at subsequent by-election. August 1933: Cudah Ratwatte (Balangoda) resigned due to ill-health. T. G. Jayewardene elected at subsequent by-election.
List
NameAppointed/ElectedConstituencyVotesMajorityTook officeLeft officeNotes Elected Nuwara Eliya Elected Udugama Extracts from 'Nobodies to Somebodies – The Rise of the Colonial Bourgeoisie in Sri Lanka' Elected Matugama Elected Veyangoda - - Elected Kalutara Minister of Local Administration (1931–35). Appointed European Elected Chilaw Elected Colombo South Elected Panadura Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees (1934–35). Elected Puttalam Elected Kandy Elected Moratuwa Elected Balapitiya Elected Bandarawela Elected Anuradhapura Elected Colombo Central Elected Narammala Elected Narammala Elected Gampaha Elected Kelaniya - - Leader of the House (1931–35). Minister of Home Affairs (1931–35). Elected Balangoda Succeeds Cudah Ratwatte. Elected Matale Elected Galle Minister of Education (1931–35). Elected Badulla - - Elected Kurunegala Elected Jaffna Elected Batticaloa South Minister of Communications and Works (1931–35). Elected Ruwanwella Elected Dedigama Speaker (1931–34). Elected Kankesanthurai Elected Avissawella Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees (1931–34). Speaker (1934–35). Elected Gampola Minister of Health (1931–35). Appointed Indian Tamils - - Elected Horana Elected Matara Elected Point Pedro Elected Bibile - - Elected Negombo Elected Dumbara Elected Balangoda Resigned due to ill-health. Succeeded by T. G. Jayewardene. Appointed Malays - - Elected Colombo North Succeeds Ratnasothy Saravanamuttu. Elected Colombo North Unseated. Succeeded by Naysum Saravanamuttu. Appointed Burghers - - Appointed Burghers Elected Mannar-Mullaitivu Elected Kayts Elected Minuwangoda - - Minister of Agriculture and Lands (1931–35). Appointed Appointed Appointed Elected Trincomalee-Batticaloa Deputy Chairman of Committees (1931–35). Elected Hatton - - Minister of Labour, Industry and Commerce (1931–35). Elected Katugampola Appointed European Elected Talawakele Elected Weligama Elected Morawaka Elected Hambantota Elected Kegalle Elected Ratnapura
References