Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 1947
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) from August 23 to September 20, 1947.
(then known as Ceylon). Although it took place before independence was actually granted, it was the first election under the Soulbury Constitution.
Some of the major figures who had led the independence struggle
were found in the rightwing United National Party
led by D.S. Senanayake. In opposition were the Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party
and Bolshevik Leninist Party of India
, the Communist Party of Ceylon, the Ceylon Indian Congress and an array of independents.
, which had taken most of the seats in the Tamil regions.
Sri Lanka became a dominion
rather than attaining full independence
. The British
retained military bases in the country and English
remained as the official language along with much of the administrative system put in place by the British along with British officials.
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...
) from August 23 to September 20, 1947.
Background
This is considered the first national election held in Sri LankaSri 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...
(then known as Ceylon). Although it took place before independence was actually granted, it was the first election under the Soulbury Constitution.
Some of the major figures who had led the independence struggle
Sri Lanka Independence Struggle
The Sri Lankan independence movement was a peaceful political movement which aimed at achieving independence & self rule for Ceylon from the British Empire. It was initiated around the turn of the 20th century lead mostly by the educated middle class and ultimately was successful when February 4,...
were found in the rightwing United National Party
United National Party
The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP ), , is a political party in Sri Lanka. It currently is the main opposition party in Sri Lanka and is headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe...
led by D.S. Senanayake. In opposition were the Trotskyist Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
and Bolshevik Leninist Party of India
Bolshevik-Leninist Party of India, Ceylon and Burma
Bolshevik-Leninist Party of India, Ceylon and Burma was a revolutionary Trotskyist party which campaigned for independence and socialism in South Asia.-History:...
, the Communist Party of Ceylon, the Ceylon Indian Congress and an array of independents.
Results
Senanayake's UNP fell short of a majority, but was able to form a government in coalition with the All Ceylon Tamil CongressAll Ceylon Tamil Congress
All Ceylon Tamil Congress , is the oldest Tamil political party in Sri Lanka.-History:The ACTC was founded in 1944 by G.G. Ponnambalam. Ponnambalam asked for a 50-50 representation in parliament...
, which had taken most of the seats in the Tamil regions.
Sri Lanka became a dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
rather than attaining full independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
. The British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
retained military bases in the country and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
remained as the official language along with much of the administrative system put in place by the British along with British officials.