Donoughmore Constitution and its Shortcomings

The main grievance of Ceylonese politicians with regard to the Manning-Devonshire Constitution was that while the Legislative Council, in theory, had authority over the government through its financial and legislative powers, it had no executive powers. The two representatives in the Executive Council, without responsibility for any specific area, could not really influence governmental action.

In response to these grievances, Britain sent another commission at the end of the 1920s to draw up a new constitution. In those years, Britain's Labour Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, along with at least some members of the cabinet and parliament, was keen on reforms in the colonies. The Donoughmore Constitution, as it was known after the Chairman of the Commission, Lord Donoughmore, moved in radical new directions. It introduced Universal Suffrage, which was opposed by most Sri Lankan politicians. Among them were Ponnambalam Ramanathan, James Pieris, E. W. Perera, D. B. Jayatilaka, D. S. Senanayake and S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Only two minor politicians, one of whom was the Labour Party leader, A. E. Goonesinha, spoke in its favour.

The other major change of the Donoughmore Constitution was the amalgamation of legislative and executive functions by the creation of a State Council. Through the State Council ministers were appointed to take charge of the executive departments of the government. However, unlike in the cabinet system in Britain, these ministers were not chosen from the ruling party. In fact, though candidates described themselves as members of parties (Congress, Liberal or Labour), they stood as individuals.

Instead of forming into party blocs, members of the State Council divided themselves into seven committees, with responsibility for specific areas of government.