House of Representatives of Ceylon
Encyclopedia
The House of Representatives of Ceylon was the lower chamber of the parliament
of Ceylon
(now Sri Lanka
) established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution. The House was housed in the old State Council
building in Galle Face Green
, Colombo
and met for the first time on 14 October 1947. The First Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka, adopted on 22 May 1972, replaced the House of Representatives (and Parliament of Ceylon
) with the unicameral National State Assembly
.
. The members were known as "Members of Parliament". The six appointed members represented important interests which were not represented or inadequately represented in the House.
The fourth amendment to the Soulbury Constitution increased the number of members to 157 (151 elected from 145 electoral districts and six appointed).
). From March 1960 there were 145 electoral districts consisting of 140 single-member districts, four two-member districts (Akurana, Batticaloa, Colombo South
and Mutur
) and one three-member district (Colombo Central
).
Parliament of Ceylon
The Parliament of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution, prior to independence on 4 February 1948...
of Ceylon
Dominion of Ceylon
The Dominion of Ceylon, known today as Sri Lanka, was a dominion, in the British Empire between 1948 and 1972. In 1948, British Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. In 1972, the Dominion of Ceylon became a republic within the Commonwealth, and its name was changed to Sri Lanka...
(now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution. The House was housed in the old State Council
State Council of Ceylon
The State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...
building in Galle Face Green
Galle Face Green
The Galle Face is a promenade which stretches for half kilometre along the coast in the heart of financial and business district of Colombo, Sri Lanka...
, Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
and met for the first time on 14 October 1947. The First Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka, adopted on 22 May 1972, replaced the House of Representatives (and Parliament of Ceylon
Parliament of Ceylon
The Parliament of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution, prior to independence on 4 February 1948...
) with the unicameral National State Assembly
National State Assembly
The National State Assembly was the legislative body of Sri Lanka established in 1972 by the First Republican Constitution. The assembly replaced the Parliament of Ceylon ....
.
Membership
The House of Representatives initially consisted of 101 members, of whom 95 were elected by the electors of the 89 electoral districts and six appointed by the Governor-GeneralGovernor-General of Ceylon
The Governor-General of Ceylon was the representative of the Ceylonese monarch, and head of state, who held the title of Queen of Ceylon from 1948 when the country became independent as a Dominion until the country became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972.-Role:The monarch, on the advice of the...
. The members were known as "Members of Parliament". The six appointed members represented important interests which were not represented or inadequately represented in the House.
The fourth amendment to the Soulbury Constitution increased the number of members to 157 (151 elected from 145 electoral districts and six appointed).
Electoral districts
The initial 89 electoral districts consisted of 84 single-member districts, four two-member districts (Ambalangoda-Balapitiya, Badulla, Balangoda and Kadugannawa) and one three-member district (Colombo CentralColombo Central Electoral District
Colombo Central electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the city of Colombo in Colombo District, Western Province. The district was a three-member constituency. The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the...
). From March 1960 there were 145 electoral districts consisting of 140 single-member districts, four two-member districts (Akurana, Batticaloa, Colombo South
Colombo South Electoral District
Colombo South electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and July 1977. The district was named after the city of Colombo in Colombo District, Western Province. The district was a two-member constituency between March 1960 and July 1977...
and Mutur
Mutur Electoral District
Mutur Electoral District was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the town of Mutur in Trincomalee District, Eastern Province. The district was a two-member constituency between March 1960 and July 1977...
) and one three-member district (Colombo Central
Colombo Central Electoral District
Colombo Central electoral district was an electoral district of Sri Lanka between August 1947 and February 1989. The district was named after the city of Colombo in Colombo District, Western Province. The district was a three-member constituency. The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the...
).
Speakers
- Sir Alfred Francis MolamureAlfred Francis MolamureSir Alfred Francis Molamure, commonly known as A. F. Molamure, was a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and also the first speaker of the Parliament. The first parliament, known as the First State Council, was ceremonially opened on 10 July 1931, and Molamure was elected as the speaker three...
(1947-51) - Sir Albert F. Peries (1951-56)
- H. S. Ismail (1956-59)
- T. B. Subasinghe (1960)
- R. S. Pelpola (1960-64)
- Hugh Fernando (1964)
- Sir Albert F. Peries (1965-67)
- Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea (1967-70)
- Stanley Tillekeratne (1970-72)
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees
- R. A. de Mel (1947-48)
- H. W. Amarasuriya (1948)
- Sir Albert F. Peries (1948-51)
- H. S. Ismail (1951-56)
- Piyasena Tennakoon (1956-58)
- R. S. Pelpola (1958-60)
- Hugh Fernando (1960-64)
- D. A. RajapaksaD. A. RajapaksaDon Alwin Rajapaksa was a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament, who represented the Beliatta electorate in Hambantota district from 1947 to 1965...
(1964) - Srikuradas Charles Shirley Corea (1965-67)
- Sir Razik FareedRazik FareedSir Razik Fareed, OBE, JP , was a Ceylonese lawyer, politician, diplomat and philanthropist. He was the former Cabinet Minister of Trade, Senator, member of parliament and the state council...
(1967-68) - Murugesu SivasithamparamMurugesu SivasithamparamMurugesu Sivasithamparam was a leading Sri Lankan Tamil politician, Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker.-Early life:Sivasithamparam was born 20 July 1923 in Karaveddy in northern British Ceylon. He was educated at Vigneswara College, Karaveddy and St. Joseph's College, Colombo. He later studied...
(1968-70) - I. A. Cader (1970-72)
See also
- Legislative Council of CeylonLegislative Council of CeylonThe Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first form of representative government in the island...
- National State AssemblyNational State AssemblyThe National State Assembly was the legislative body of Sri Lanka established in 1972 by the First Republican Constitution. The assembly replaced the Parliament of Ceylon ....
- Parliament of CeylonParliament of CeylonThe Parliament of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Constitution, prior to independence on 4 February 1948...
- Parliament of Sri LankaParliament of Sri LankaThe Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
- Senate of CeylonSenate of CeylonThe Senate of Ceylon was the upper chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Commission. The Senate was appointed/indirectly elected rather than directly elected. The Senate was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort and met for the first time...
- State Council of CeylonState Council of CeylonThe State Council of Ceylon was the unicameral legislature for Ceylon , established in 1931 by the Donoughmore Constitution. The State Council gave universal adult franchise to the people of the colony for the first time...