We should be grateful that our leaders did not tread the path of Mahatma Gandhi Contrary to Don Manu’s claim, Sri Lanka’s independence owes more to Sri Lankan statesmen such as Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam and Sir James Peiris than to Mahatma Gandhi. In India, following the implementation of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms in 1920, Provincials Councils [...]
We should be grateful that our leaders did not tread the path of Mahatma Gandhi
Contrary to Don Manu’s claim, Sri Lanka’s independence owes more to Sri Lankan statesmen such as Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam and Sir James Peiris than to Mahatma Gandhi. In India, following the implementation of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms in 1920, Provincials Councils were formed with Indian ministers in charge of some ministries.
In Sri Lanka, following the formation of the Ceylon Reform League, under leadership of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, a few elected Sri Lankan legislators were elected to the Legislative Council in 1920 and the principle of representative government was introduced, albeit on a small scale.
In India, Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated his opposition to the slow rate of progress by calling for non-cooperation movements and the Salt March which resulted in chaos. In Sri Lanka, politicians such as Sir James Peiris persuaded the British to increase the number of elected Sri Lankan legislators by the force of argument. This approach resulted in the adoption of the Donoughmore Constitution, with the internal governance of Sri Lanka being transferred to Sri Lankan ministers in 1931. This step did not take place in India till 1937.
During the World War II, Sri Lankan politicians supported the fight against the Axis powers whereas Gandhi’s Quit India Movement hindered the war effort and some in Congress even supported the Nazis. The breakdown in relations between the British and Congress eventually led to the partition and massacres in the Punjab.
In contrast, the transfer of power in Sri Lanka was peaceful. Sri Lanka should be eternally grateful that our leaders did not tread the path trod by Mahatma Gandhi.
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