Politics in Sri Lanka 1947–1973

360 Pages·1974·35.565 MB·English

by  A. Jeyaratnam Wilson (auth.)

POLITICS IN SRI LANKA 1947-1973
By the same author
ELECTORAL POLITICS IN AN EMERGENT STATE:
THE CEYLON GENERAL ELECTION OF MAY 1970
Politics in Sri Lanka
1947-1973
A. JEYARATNAM WILSON
Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science
University of New Brunswick
formerly Professor of Political Science and Head,
Department of Economics and Political Science
University of Sri Lanka
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 978-1-349-01546-7 ISBN 978-1-349-01544-3 (eBook)
DOI 1O.1007/978-1-349-01544-3
Copyright © 1974 A. Jeyaratnam Wilson
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover Ist edition 1974 978-0-333-13665-2
All rights reserved. For information, write:
St. Martin's Press, Inc., 175 Filth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
Library 01 Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-90319
First published in the United States 01 America in 1974
AFFILIATED PUBLISHERS:
Machillan Limited, London -
also at Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Melbourne
For Siisill and Malliha, Maithili and Kiimanan
Contents
List of Maps and Tables viii
Acknowledgements xi
List of Abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1
1 The Land and its History 5
2 Problems in a Plural Society 15
3 Economic and Social Progress 61
4 Political Behaviour and Political Forces 125
5 Constitution and Government 189
6 Foreign Policy and Defence Arrangements 226
7 Conclusion 303
Notes 309
Bibliographical Note 331
Index 333
List of Maps and Tables
page
Modem Sri Lanka: Provincial Divisions and Principal Towns 4
Sri Lanka: Main Agricultural Exports and Climatic Zones 60
Population Growth 1871-1971 62
Unemployment by Educational Status, 1953, 1963 and 1966 66
Acreage of Lands alienated and Number of
Allottees settled under State Schemes 81
Paddy Yields 1956-70 85
Export Volumes and Earnings of Tea, Rubber and
Major Coconut Products 1947-70 88
Taxes, Dividends and Reserves as a Percentage of
Gross Surplus of Companies 89
Value of Assets, Plantations and Private Sector, 1964 90
Sri Lanka's Exports and Imports 1956-69 106
Government Expenditure on Social Services and
Economic Development, 1948, 1955, 1961 107
Government of Sri Lanka, Financial Position 1956-70 108
G.N.P. (1960-65) at 1959 Factor Cost Prices 109
Per Capita Income (1960-65) at 1959 Factor Cost Prices 109
G.N.P. (1965-70) at 1959 Factor Cost Prices 112
Per Capita Income (1965-70) at 1959 Factor Cost Prices 112
Party Positions (House of Representatives) at
General Elections, 1947-70 170
Lists of Maps and Tables ix
Distribution of Seats (House of Representatives) by
Provinces, 1947-56 218
Distribution of Seats (House of Representatives) by
Communities, 1947 218
Voting Strengths in Selected Constituencies, 1947
and 1952 220
Distribution of Seats (House of Representatives)
by Provinces, 1960-70 221
Distribution of Seats (House of Representatives) by
Communities, March 1960 221
Foreign Trade, 1951-70 292
Acknowledgements
This work is the result of many many years of research on and
first-hand observation of political developments in Sri Lanka
since 1947.
The many hundreds of students I taught at the University of
Sri Lanka during 1952-72 helped me tremendously in the formu-
lation of my views, theories and interpretations by their immediate
and critical responses in classroom discussions, and to them lowe
special thanks.
There are close friends in Peradeniya from whose criticisms
and observations I benefited greatly. I should like to make par-
ticular mention of Professor K. M. de Silva for his unfailing
generosity and helpful advice. Professors W. J. F. Labrooy, H. A.
de S. Gunasekere, Mr H. A. 1. Goonetilleke, Professor Stanley
Kalpage, Drs B. Hewavitharana and W. A. Wiswa Warnapala
also had long conversations with me on various aspects of this
work. Outside Sri Lanka, Professor Dennis Austin of the Victoria
University of Manchester, Professor George Lerski of the Univer-
sity of San Francisco, Professor Ferdinand Hermens, formerly of
the University of Cologne and presently Fellow of the Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, and Dr
Calvin Woodward of the University of New Brunswick were
helpful. I am grateful to the latter and to Brown University Press
for permission to base my two maps on the map in Woodward's
The Growth of a Party System in Ceylon. Needless to say the
responsibility for any errors are mine.
I am specially grateful to Mrs N. M. Hettiaratchi of Peradeniya
for patiently typing several drafts of this book. Many thanks are
also due to Mrs Rheta MacElwain of the University of New
Brunswick for making an accurate typescript of the final draft.
My wife Siisili and my children Malliha, Maithili and
Kiimanan showed forbearance and patience while I was on this