CEYLON
107
CEYLON.
Constitution and Government.
The authentic history of Ceylon begins in the fifth century b.c, when an invasion of Hindus from Northern India established the Sinhalese dynasty. The country was developed by Tamil colonists from South India. Buddhism was introduced from India in the third century B.C., and in comparative purity is still the religion of the majority of the inhabitants.
In 1505 the Portuguese formed settlements on the west and south, which were taken from them about the middle of the next century by the Dutch. In 1795-96 the British Government annexed the foreign settlements to the Presidency of Madras; in 1798 Ceylon was erected into a separate colony. In 1815 the whole island fell under British rule.
According to the terms of the Constitution established in 1831, 1833 and 1910, the administration is in the hands of a Governor, aided by an Executive Council of seven members — viz., the Officer commanding the Troops, the Colouial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Controller of Revenue, the Colonial Treasurer, and two members nominated by the Governor, and a Legislative Council of 21 members, incluaing the Executive Council, four other office-holders, and ten unofficial members, six nominated by the Governor and four elected as representing the different races and classes in the community.
Governor. —
Colonial Secretary.— Row. \\. E. Stubbs. (Salary 2,000/,)
For purposes of general a<lministration, the island is divided into nine provinces, presided over by Government Agents, with assistants and subor- dinate headmen. There are three municipalities and twenty-one local boards mainly for sanitary purposes.
Area and Population
The population for 1911 shows an increase of 14 '98 per cent, on the population of 1901. The enumerated population was 4,105,535 at the census of Marcli, 1911, exclusive of the military and shipping. The following are the statistics of the census of 1911 (excluding the immigrant population on the tea estates, the military, and the shipping): —
Area: Population, 1911
Provinces
i
Area:
English
sqr. miles
Population, 1911
Provinces
English sqr. miles Total
Per sq. 1 mile 1
Total
419,007
86,269
144,696
315,600
Persq. mile
Western
Central
Northern
Southern
Eastern
1,432 1,062,315 2,300 392,709 3,363 369.452 2,146 619,010 4,036 183,339
741 1 170 109! 256 1 45;
North-Western
North Central
, Uva ....
Sabaragainuwa
Total , .
2,997 4,002 3,155 1,901
139 21 46
166
25.332
3,502,397
141
Total number of Europeans (including military, shipping, and estates), 7,625.
The race distribution of the population at the census of 1911 was a.s follows:- —
