Mr. John Still: 'The Colonial Empire-Ceylon'
In 1795 the British took Ceylon from the Dutch, who, in their turn, had taken it from the Portuguese, and it became a Crown Colony in 1798. By the Treaty of Amiens in 1802 it was formally ceded to Britain, but not until 1815 did the native kingdom of Kandy, in the highlands inland, come over voluntarily to the British.
By planting of coffee came prosperity, which was put to good use. Harbours were developed, roads and towns were built, and eventually railways: then a disease practically wiping out the coffee plants brought renewed prosperity instead of disaster, for tea was planted instead.
John Still, who has lived for thirty years in Ceylon, is Secretary of the Ceylon Association, and author of 'The Jungle Tide', a book on Ceylon, will trace the history of the island from Roman times down to the present day. Not only will he discuss the new Constitution which Ceylon was granted in 1931 and the present reaction to it, but he will speak of 'rhododendrons growing wild by trout streams', of flamingoes and kingfishers, of old civilisations, of the mountain where Buddha is said to have stood.