Question

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in the year __________
A. 1942
B. 1944
C. 1947
D. 1948

Answer 1

Hint: The Sri Lankan independence movement was a peaceful political movement, unlike the Indian Freedom Struggle. It was aimed at achieving independence and self-rule for the country which was then British Ceylon.

Complete answer: The Sri Lankan independence movement and going against the British Empire was a peaceful political movement. It was aimed at achieving independence and self-rule for Sri Lanka which was at that time called British Ceylon. The switch of powers happened in a very peaceful manner and hence the transfer of power from the British administration to Ceylon representatives was rather smoothly done. It was started around the turn of the 20th century. It was led mostly by the educated middle class. It was recognized as a successful movement when Ceylon was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon. This took place on 4 February 1948. However, the Dominion status within the British Commonwealth was retained for the next 24 years. It was after 22 May 1972 that Sri Lanka became a republic and was renamed as ‘the Republic of Sri Lanka’. In 1946, D.S. Senanayake formed the United National Party (UNP) when a new constitution was agreed.

Hence, The correct answer is Option D.

Note: In the 1947 elections, the UNP won a minority of the seats in Parliament but ended up in a coalition with the Sinhala Maha Sabha and the Tamil Congress. The British prepared to hand over the power to this coalition.