# Independence of Ceylon (4 February 1948)

URL: https://allhistories.com/sri-lanka/timeline/1948-independence-of-ceylon
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Themes: main-event

On 4 February 1948 Ceylon became an independent Dominion within the Commonwealth under the Ceylon Independence Act 1947, passed by the British Parliament. An amended constitution took effect the same day, creating a bicameral legislature of a Senate and a House of Representatives, with a governor-general representing the Crown. D. S. Senanayake, who had become prime minister in September 1947, led the first government. Independence followed years of constitutional reform and political negotiation, in which the Soulbury Commission's recommendations and the cooperation of leaders from several communities played a part. The change was gradual rather than revolutionary. Britain kept military treaties and retained its naval and air bases, and the new state stayed within the Commonwealth, so critics on the left called the settlement independence in name only. Within months the Soviet Union vetoed Ceylon's application for United Nations membership, arguing it was only nominally independent. Dominion status lasted until 22 May 1972, when the island became the republic of Sri Lanka. Independence Day on 4 February remains the main national holiday, commemorating the transfer of power. At this point in the timeline (1948), Henry Monck-Mason Moore (4 February 1948 – 30 June 1949) was Governor-General, the Crown's representative in the Dominion of Ceylon; Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake (24 September 1947 – 22 March 1952) led the government. Reign dates for this ruler are disputed between sources.

## Why it matters
Independence created the state whose politics, constitution and ethnic relations shaped everything that followed, from the language disputes of the 1950s to the civil war.

Ruler at the Time: [Henry Monck-Mason Moore](https://allhistories.com/sri-lanka/rulers/henry-monck-mason-moore-366)

Prime Minister: D. S. Senanayake (United National Party)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Dominion of Ceylon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_of_Ceylon)
- [Wikipedia — History of Sri Lanka (1948–present)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sri_Lanka_(1948%E2%80%93present))
- [Wikipedia — D. S. Senanayake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._S._Senanayake)