Ceylon's independence and early postcolonial politics (1948-1965)

1. Soulbury Commission proposes new constitutional framework

   Jan 1, 1944Labels: Soulbury Commission, Lord Soulbury

   • Britannica
   • NLA Catalogue

2. Parliamentary elections held under the new constitution

   Aug 23, 1947Labels: 1947 Parliament, United National

   • Sri Lanka Parliament
   • Britannica

3. Dominion independence begins under the 1947 constitution

   Feb 4, 1948Labels: Dominion of, 1947 Constitution

   • Britannica

4. Ceylon Citizenship Act becomes law

   Nov 15, 1948Labels: Ceylon Citizenship, Indian Tamils

   • Ceylon Citizenship Act
   • Britannica

5. SLFP founded as a new nationalist opposition party

   Sep 2, 1951Labels: Sri Lanka, S W

   • Bandaranaike Britannica
   • Bandaranaike Wikipedia

6. Hartal strike challenges UNP rule and welfare cuts

   Aug 12, 1953Labels: 1953 Hartal, United National

   • Hartal 1953
   • Britannica

7. Ceylon admitted to the United Nations

   Dec 14, 1955Labels: United Nations, Ceylon

   • UN Sri Lanka
   • UN Press

8. Bandaranaike wins 1956 election amid policy realignment

   Apr 5, 1956Labels: 1956 Election, S W

   • Sri Lanka Parliament
   • Bandaranaike Britannica

9. Official Language Act begins “Sinhala Only” policy

   Jul 7, 1956Labels: Official Language, Sinhala Only

   • Sinhala Only Act
   • Bandaranaike Britannica

10. Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact seeks compromise on devolution

    Jul 26, 1957Labels: Bandaranaike Chelvanayakam, S J

    • B C Pact
    • Chelvanayakam

11. Assassination of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike creates leadership crisis

    Sep 25, 1959Labels: Assassination 1959, S W

    • Bandaranaike Britannica
    • UK Nat Archives

12. March 1960 election produces unstable parliament

    Mar 19, 1960Labels: March 1960, Hung Parliament

    • Sri Lanka Parliament
    • March 1960 election

13. July 1960 election brings Sirimavo Bandaranaike to power

    Jul 21, 1960Labels: Sirimavo Bandaranaike, 1960 Election

    • Britannica
    • Guinness

14. Sirima–Shastri Pact addresses citizenship of Indian-origin residents

    Oct 30, 1964Labels: Sirima Shastri, Lal Bahadur

    • Sirima Shastri Pact
    • Ceylon Citizenship Act

15. 1965 election ends SLFP government and shifts coalition politics

    Mar 22, 1965Labels: 1965 Election, Dudley Senanayake

    • Sri Lanka Parliament
    • 1965 election