Donoughmore Constitution: Sri Lanka's 1931 Universal Franchise

In 1931, Ceylon became one of the first Asian colonies to grant universal adult suffrage. This episode explores the Donoughmore Commission of 1927, its radical recommendations, and the creation of the State Council. We discuss the debates over communal versus territorial representation, the first elections that brought D.S. Senanayake to power, and how this reform set the stage for independence in 1948. We also look at the opposition from both Sinhalese elites and minority communities, and the lasting impact of this experiment in democracy.

#Donoughmore #UniversalFranchise #Ceylon #SriLanka #History #FexingoHistory #1931Elections #StateCouncil #DSSenanayake #ColonialReforms #BritishEmpire #20thCentury #SouthAsia #DemocraticReform #PoliticalHistory #ConstitutionalHistory #DonoughmoreCommission #UniversalSuffrage

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