The

Many of these Departments have an obvious and direct relationship to the trade and economic activities of the Island, but, in this place, it is only possible to mention a few. The Department of Agriculture is, of course, prominent in a country whose industries are mainly agricultural; it carries out research and investigation both with regard to the established industries, and to the development of new products, and is a centre for general information both on local and other tropical industries, while attention is given to the training of agricultural students. important matter of forest conservation is in the charge of the Forest Department, and its activities are now largely directed to the reafforestation and regeneration required after unsystematic exploitation in the past. The interests of commerce generally are in the hands of the Customs Department, at whose newly established Bureau information of various kinds is available. Industrial education has the attention of the Education Department, there being now in existence 65 industrial schools, either maintained by Government or subsidized by grants. In these schools, one or more of the following industries are taught : carpentry, basket-making, pottery, cloth-weaving, chalk-making, lacquer work, printing, binding, shoemaking, tailoring, blacksmith work, lacemaking, dressmaking, embroidery, cooking, gardening. Commercial education also receives special attention at the Technical College in Colombo.

A notable collection of information on Ceylon economics, and the relationship of the Government Departments thereto, is to be found in the "Papers relating to the Development of the Economic Resources of the Colony," published as Sessional Paper VI. of 1921, and obtainable at the Government Record Office, Colombo, price Rs. 2. It contains much interesting matter on the future development of the industries of Ceylon, as well as on various aspects of their past history and present status.

Judicial System.

The Courts Ordinance, 1889, is the principal enactment relating to the judicial system of Ceylon. The administration of justice is chiefly entrusted to the Supreme Court, the District Courts, the Courts of Requests, and the Police Courts. Village Tribunals," which are regulated by Ordinance No. 24 of 1889, possess limited powers and jurisdiction to try petty crimes and civil claims.

..

Supreme
Court.

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This

The Supreme Court possesses three jurisdictions: (i.) an original, (ii.) an appellate, and (iii.) an admiralty jurisdiction. In its original jurisdiction it may try any crime or offence committed throughout the Island, and for the purpose of the exercise of this jurisdiction the Colony is divided into four circuits, within which the Sessions are held at stated intervals throughout the year. The Supreme Court has no original civil jurisdiction. In the exercise of its appellate* or revisional jurisdiction it is empowered to correct all errors, both of fact and of law, of the inferior courts in civil as well as in criminal cases. jurisdiction is, as a general rule, exercised in Colombo. The admiralty jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is declared by section 2 of Ordinance No. 2 of 1891, and the Supreme Court enjoys the same powers which the High Court of England possesses in like matters, subject only to any provisions or limitations curtailing such powers contained in the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act 1890. The Supreme Court is the only authority which can admit advocates and proctors to practise before the various courts in the Colony, and it may remove them from office for misconduct. It may also issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, &c. It is composed of five Judges, namely, a Chief Justice and four Puisne Judges. The Governor is authorized by law to appoint a Commissioner of Assize, and such Judge when appointed has all the powers, rights, and privileges of a Judge of the Supreme Court. As in England, the Judges hold office during His Majesty's pleasure. The District Courts have unlimited civil jurisdiction, and criminal

District.
Courts.

jurisdiction over offences punishable with a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or with a fine not exceeding Rs. 1,000. A District Court cannot, however, take cognizance of any offence, unless the accused person has been committed for trial by a Police Court, or unless the case has been transferred to it from some other court by order of the Supreme Court. The District Court has original jurisdiction also in revenue, matrimonial, insolvency, and testamentary matters, and over the persons and estates of lunatics, minors, and wards, and over guardians, trustees, cestuique trusts, &c. District Courts also have an admiralty jurisdiction, and a special jurisdiction to punish contempts of court committed in the presence of the court.

The Courts of Requests are the minor civil courts, and have original jurisdiction to hear and determine (with some exceptions) all civil actions in which the value involved does not exceed Rs. 300.

Courts of Requests.

The Police Courts, in general, have jurisdiction to try and dispose summarily of all offences (other than those triable exclusively by the Village Tribunals) punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or with a fine not exceeding Rs. 100, and to inquire into all grave offences preparatory to the committal of the accused to a

Police
Courts.

*The Privy Council is the final court of appeal in all matters whether civil or criminal.

higher court.

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In such cases it is for the Attorney-General to decide whether or not the accused be so committed.

Village Tribunals.

Village Tribunals have been established in most of the rural divisions. The President of a Village Tribunal—a paid native officer of Government-is empowered to hear and determine (with the assistance of three councillors having the prescribed qualifications and selected for each case from a panel of councillors) civil cases between natives in which the sum involved does not exceed Rs. 20, and (by special request of parties whether "natives" or not) cases in which the sum involved exceeds Rs. 20 but does not exceed Rs. 100, and criminal cases of petty assaults and thefts and breaches of rules made by the Village Committees. In the case of any difference of opinion between the councillors and the President, the opinion of the President prevails. The highest punishment which a Village Tribunal is empowered to inflict is rigorous imprisonment for a term of two weeks, or a fine of Rs. 20. An appeal lies against the decision of a Village Tribunal to the Government Agent or Assistant Government Agent, and finally to the Governor in Executive Council.

Common Law of Ceylon.

The common law of Ceylon may be said to be the Roman-Dutch law, which was in operation in the maritime districts when ceded by the Dutch to the British. But the law has been modified by local Ordinances and by the introduction of the English law in certain cases (see Section 12.-Law). The criminal and civil laws of the Island were codified on the mode of the Indian Codes in the Civil Procedure Code (Ordinances Nos. 2 of 1889 and 12 of 1895 and amending Ordinances), the Criminal Procedure Code (No. 15 of 1898 and amending Ordinances), the Penal Code (No. 2 of 1883 and amending Ordinances), and the Evidence Ordinance (No. 14 of 1895 and amending Ordinances).

Codes.

Special
Laws.

Certain sections of the community are subject to their own laws and customs as to inheritance, adoption, gift, purchase, &c., so far as such customs have not been altered or repealed by statute. The Kandyan Sinhalese are governed by the Kandyan law under the Convention of March 2, 1815, made on the deposition of their King; the Tamils of the Northern Province by their customs called the Thesawalamai, which in 1706 were codified by order of the Dutch Government; the Muhammadans by customs contained in the meagre code of August 5, 1806; the Mukkuwas of the Batticaloa District by their vague customs called the Mukkuwa law."

Miscellaneous.

Government Departments are, in general, required to obtain their stores through the Colonial Storekeeper, annual indents Government being sent to him at the beginning of each year. Stores. Stores in general use are obtained on indents sent, through the Colonial Secretary, to the Crown Agents Special indents for stores and materials required for special purposes are sent, as necessary, to the same quarter.

in London.

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Articles which can be obtained locally at reasonable prices are, as a rule, obtained in the Island on contract by tenders called for in the Government Gazette and local newspapers. In some cases goods are obtained from local dealers at the discretion of the Colonial Storekeeper. The Crown Agents act as commercial and financial agents in England for Ceylon, as well as for the other Crown Colonies. They receive orders direct from the Colonial Government, but are supervised by the Secretary of State in matters of importance, or in cases in which a question

The Crown
Agents.

of principle arises. Among the principal Government publications are: The Ceylon Government Gazette (weekly, price Rs. 12 per annum, Government 25 cents per copy), in which appear all Government Publications. appointments and notifications; Sessional Papers (price, bound volumes Rs. 7.50 to Rs. 10, single papers, each page 3 cents), being special reports of various subjects; Administration Reports (annual, price, bound volumes Rs. 10, single reports, each page 3 cents), being reports on the preceding year's work in each Department; Ceylon Blue Book (annual, price Rs. 10), which gives statistical information of various kinds regarding Ceylon; Annual General Report (price 75 cents), giving general information on the year's administration; Ceylon Civil List (annual, price Rs. 2), giving the names, appointments, &c., of the more important Government officers, and other particulars; Legislative Enactments (Rs. 8.50 per bound volume); Ceylon Hansard (annual, price Rs. 10 per volume), which contains reports of the debates in the Legislative Council; New Law Reports (price Rs. 10 to Rs. 13.50 per unbound volume, Re. 1 per part, Digests Rs. 2), giving the recent important decisions of the Supreme Court; various local Manuals and Gazetteers (price Rs. 2·50 to Rs. 5 each), with information regarding particular districts; Customs Monthly Returns (price per annum Rs. 20, single copy Rs. 2); Customs Tariff (price 50 cents); and a number of others, of which a list can be obtained from the Government Recordkeeper, Colombo,

The following publications can be obtained from the Departments concerned: Post Office Daily List (Rs. 10 per annum, payable in advance); Post Office Guide (annual, price 75 cents); Police Gazette ; miscellaneous Railway publications.

General Statement.

SECTION 3.-TRADE CONDITIONS IN 1921. Ceylon depends for its prosperity mainly upon agriculture and the development of its natural resources in this direction. There are few manufacturing industries, and those which exist are in their infancy, with the exception of the processes by which the three chief staple products, tea, rubber, and the produce of the coconut palm, are prepared for the market. The mineral resources of the Island, with the exception of plumbago, are not large, while the total absence of coal no doubt largely accounts for the lack of manufactures. Consequently the trade of the Island is occupied with the export of the staple agricultural products and the import of the manufactured articles and finished materials

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required by the population, in addition to those foodstuffs which are not grown locally in sufficient quantities for local requirements. The total value of the foreign trade of the Colony (shown in the table No. 10 on page 38 and diagram No. 6) has risen during

Value. the last ten years from Rs. 346,000,000 or about £23,100,000 in 1911 to Rs. 519,000,000 or about £34,500,000 in 1921. From 1911 to 1919 exports always showed a considerable, though varying, excess over imports, but in 1920 and 1921 the import trade was the larger. Ceylon is a debtor country in the sense that many of the estates in the Island have been opened out with British capital, and a considerable part of the value of the exports goes to provide the interest on outside capital invested in Ceylon industries. As regards trade relations with other countries, it may be said that, roughly, one-third of our total trade is with the United Trade with Kingdom, one-third with the British Possessions, chiefly other Countries. British India, and one-third with Foreign Countries. The proportions, however, are not the same in the

import trade as in the exports.

Before the war about 30 per cent. of the imports came from the United Kingdom, 55 per cent. from British Possessions, and only 15 per cent. from Foreign Countries. Of the exports, 48 per cent. went to the United Kingdom, 13 per cent. to British Possessions, and 39 per cent. to Foreign Countries. The war, of course, altered the balance of trade in many directions. Intercourse with enemy countries ceased, and trade with the mother country and some British Possessions was greatly hampered by the exigencies of control and shortage of freight. Trade with neutral countries in Europe was difficult for the same reasons. The countries which had the greatest opportunity of increasing their trade were those British Possessions nearest to Ceylon, together with Japan and America.

In 1920 and 1921 trade conditions showed signs of becoming more normal, but it is as yet difficult to say whether trade with the various countries will ever return to the position held before the war. The returns for 1921 show that the import trade with the United Kingdom has considerably improved, while the British Possessions and Foreign Countries have lost their positions, the percentages reading as 25 per cent. from the United Kingdom, 59.3 per cent. from British Possessions, and 15.7 per cent. from Foreign Countries. The distribution of the exports has returned more nearly to pre-war figures, being 46.2 per cent. to the United Kingdom in 1921, 16.4 per cent. to British Possessions, and 37.4 per cent. to Foreign Countries. These, and other, values are shown in diagrams Nos. 8-10. For detailed figures of imports and exports, see Appendix I.

Imports.

Of articles coming under the head of food and drink, Ceylon imports considerable quantities. The population of the Island Food and Drink, lives mainly on rice, but only one-third of the requirements is grown locally. The remainder comes in normal years from India and Burma. Peas and beans come from India and the Far East, cummin seed from France, the United Kingdom,