Ceylon, her present condition: revenues, taxes, and expenditure. Described in a series of letters addressed to the Ceylon observer

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^B 23fl 715
CEYLON:
HER PRESENT CONDITION:
REVENUES, TAXES AND EXPEN-
DITURE
By
•'SPECULUM"0^^/
ERKELEY
BRARY
iiversjty of
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.1 ICEYLON:
CONDITIOKrHER PRESENT
AND EXPENDITURE.REVENUES, TAXES,
DESCEIBED IN
SERIES LETTERSA OF
ADDRESSED TO
'' The Ceylon Observer''
BY
"SPECULUM,"
'
' "' " V-COLOMBO : " ct
OBSEEVEE PEBS8. ' ^^^^'' ''\<>'^-'^\\ ^ '
MDCCCLXVIII.LOAN STACK
^•-
*
V-?1295HI)
C4S7
PKEFACE.
commenced at a time when a universal'These letters,
upon every class and interest indepression weighed heavily
Colony, were intended to explain its cause and to directthe
Revenue and to thepublic attention to the sources of the
and unequal pressure of Taxation, on certain classes ofsevere
the people of Ceylon.
knowledge of the proportion contributed toAn accurate
enterprise, being an essentialthe Revenue by each class and
ground-work of a just administration of any Government,^
honest attempt to elucidate the subject and afford correctan
regarded as valuableinformation will be a public service,
especially where, as in Ceylon, ignorance prevails so generally
that even the Governor could commit himself in a recent
despatch to a statement so remarkably opposed to the fact
as that the European class contribute only an infinitesimal
proportion of the Revenue.
"Whilst such erroneous ideas prevailed with respect to the
that the Ex-Europeans and their enterprise it is no wonder
port duties were perpetuated, or that our Exchequer over-
flowing with wealth procured by light taxa-means of such
tion should be relieved of its superfluity for the benefit of
the British taxpayer. The various classes of the community
cannot expect equal justice is fullyuntil the condition of each
known, nor can the Colony hope for just treatment from theare herMother-coimtry whilst her means exaggerated and
burdens under-stated.
Since public attention has been given to the important
to pre-question of taxation, more correct views have begun
vail, and it is to be hoped that ere long complete and accu-
will bo acquired.rate information
ruralA faithful exposition of the condition of the popu-
lation in Ceylon, of their neglected interests, and of their
decline could not fail to excite the sympathyoppression and
of philanthropic minds, and it is gratifying to see that
European colonists who, nine months ago, rarely spoke of the
race without expressions of contemptSinghalese are now
grounds of their prejudice,questioning the and are desiring
know something more of a people who, thoughto now poor
decayed were once flourishing in theand enjoyment of a
high civilisation and great national wealth : a people whose
enterprise judged by the grandeur ofancient their monumental
restoration atruins demands some the hands of a Govern-
whose neglect has helped to reducement them to their
present condition.
If I desired a patron, I dedicate my work^would to the
Planters of Ceylon, but I value their spontaneous sup-
port too highly to invite their patronage and am content
that this first instalment of my task should have no other
recommendation than its own merits.
SPECULUM.Digitized by tine Internet.Archive
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