CHRISTIANS IN CEYLON

Sat,—An article on the Church in India, by my friend Fr. Stephen Raymund, has acquainted the readers of THE CATHOLIC HERALD with the problems of the Church in the New India. Since that article, Ceylon has been promised Dominion status by His Majesty's Government. Within a few months after the inauguration of the new Parliament next October, Ceylon (or will it be Lanka ?) will be the latest member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, For more than a hundred years the Christian minorities in Ceylon have enjoyed a privileged position under British rule. This may be attributed, as does Fr. Raymund for the case of India, to the fact that Christians have easily adapted Western ways and methods with a good command of the English language. The Government cannot be accused of favouritism. Government posts were filled by men according to
merit. Christians happened to be the majority of those who were educated according to Western standards.
But with the new constitution granted to Ceylon in 1931—a novel constitution devised by the Donoughmore Commission with no parallel anywhere in the Empire—a change occurred. The Donoughmore Constitution granted to Ceylon, " transferred to the elected representatives of the people complete control over the internal affairs of the island." Non-Christians filled the State Council. Christians lost their privileged position. Several discriminatory legislations were enacted, calculated to injure Christian interests, especially in the field of education. The Minister of Education has often tried to close down Christian schools. He has failed so far. His successors may succeed.
A commission on constitutional reform, headed by Lord Soulbury, recommended a near-Dominion status form of government. Ceylon WAS given responsibility for all internal affairs. Certain bills could be reserved by the Governor-General for His Majesty's approval. Among these was one relating to legislation injuring religious or racial minorities. But even before this new constitution has begun to function, Great Britain has offered Dominion Status to Ceylon. Obviously, with Dominion States, the powers of His Majesty in Council to legislate for the island, the powers granted under the Soulbury constitution to the Governor, etc., will lapse. The legislature can by a majority alter the constitution.
Hence, what of the Christian minorities? They have to depend on the goodwill of the Buddhist and Hindu majority. All Christians look forward to the prospective Prime Minister, Mr. D. S. Senanayake, to protect their interests. But the great Mr. Senanayake is not eternal. Others will take his place. If Ceylon gets a Prime Minister of the type of the present Minister of Education, then good-bye to the religious tolerance that we enjoy.
FRANCIS TAMBIMUITU (Rev.)
Catholic Church, Batticaloa, Ceylon.