Independence Movement, Post-Independence Politics and Nation-Building
What this domain tests
This domain covers constitutional reform under British rule, the transfer of power in 1948, and the political choices that shaped citizenship, language, devolution and civil conflict. Expect questions that require precise dates and the ability to link policy decisions to later outcomes.
Reform to independence
- The Ceylon National Congress (1919) was an early nationalist platform, though it was dominated by English-educated elites.
- The Donoughmore Commission (1927–28) recommended universal adult suffrage; the State Council began in 1931.
- The Soulbury Commission (1944–45) designed the independence constitution. Ceylon became a dominion on 4 February 1948, with D. S. Senanayake as first prime minister.
- S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike formed the SLFP in 1951 and won in 1956; the Official Language Act (Sinhala Only) of 1956 deepened Tamil fears.
- The 1972 constitution made Sri Lanka a republic; the 1978 constitution created an executive presidency.
- The civil war (1983–2009) ended with the defeat of the LTTE; the 13th Amendment (1987) created provincial councils.
Worked example
A candidate writes: 'Sri Lanka became independent in 1948 when it became a republic.' Correction: 1948 brought dominion status and self-government; republic status came with the 1972 constitution. The reasoning is that 'independence' and 'republic' are separate constitutional steps.
Traps that cost marks
Conflating 1948, 1972 and 1978; treating the Sinhala Only Act as a language-rights measure rather than a status policy; assuming the civil war began in 1983 without noting earlier communal violence; confusing the Soulbury and Donoughmore commissions.