Youth Leagues
Encyclopedia
The Youth Leagues were societies of young people, mainly intellectuals, who wanted independence for Sri Lanka
.
The first of these organisations was the Jaffna
Students’ Congress, founded in 1924 and renamed the Jaffna Youth Congress
(JYC) in 1926. It had its base amongst educated middle-class Tamil
youth, especially and young graduates from India
n Universities and from the newly founded University College, Colombo. It drew enthusiasm and morale boosts from visits of leading Indian personalities, such as Gandhi and Nehru.
In 1931 Kamaladevi Chattopadyaya addressed the opening session of the All-Ceylon Youth Congress, which brought together the Youth Leagues in the All-Ceylon Youth Congress.
A group of young intellectuals who had returned to the island in the early thirties, having completed their studies abroad where they had been influenced by the Marxist and labour movements, enthusiastically participated in the radical activities of the newly formed Youth Leagues, which became a focus of anti-imperialist agitation among the youth.
In February 1933 they became involved in a strike at the Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving mills, the island’s largest textile
factory at that time with 1,400 workers (two-thirds of Indian origin and one-third Sinhalese). This gave the Youth Leaguers a chance for leadership as well as experience in trade union agitation. The South Colombo Youth League published an irregular journal in Sinhala, Kamkaruwa (The Worker).
In November 1933 the Youth League radicals initiated a dynamic revival of the Suriya-Mal Movement
. In opposition to the official Poppy Day sponsored by the British
colonial administration (which sent the funds it raised to Britain
) the Youth Leagues sold the local Suriya (Portia tree
) flower, with the proceeds going to Ceylonese ex-servicemen. During the malaria epidemic in 1934-5 these activists did relief work in the disease-stricken areas where over 100,000 people died.
The Ministers of the Ceylon National Congress petitioned the colonial government to increase their powers, instead of demanding full independence, or even dominion
status. They were forced to withdraw their 'Ministers' Memorandum' after a vigorous campaign by the Youth Leagues.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
The first of these organisations was the Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
Students’ Congress, founded in 1924 and renamed the Jaffna Youth Congress
Jaffna Youth Congress
The Jaffna Youth Congress, was the first of Sri Lanka's Youth Leagues. It was influenced by the Indian Independence Movement, was secular and committed to Poorana Swaraj , national unity and the eradication of inequalities imposed by caste....
(JYC) in 1926. It had its base amongst educated middle-class Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
youth, especially and young graduates from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Universities and from the newly founded University College, Colombo. It drew enthusiasm and morale boosts from visits of leading Indian personalities, such as Gandhi and Nehru.
In 1931 Kamaladevi Chattopadyaya addressed the opening session of the All-Ceylon Youth Congress, which brought together the Youth Leagues in the All-Ceylon Youth Congress.
A group of young intellectuals who had returned to the island in the early thirties, having completed their studies abroad where they had been influenced by the Marxist and labour movements, enthusiastically participated in the radical activities of the newly formed Youth Leagues, which became a focus of anti-imperialist agitation among the youth.
In February 1933 they became involved in a strike at the Wellawatte Spinning and Weaving mills, the island’s largest textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
factory at that time with 1,400 workers (two-thirds of Indian origin and one-third Sinhalese). This gave the Youth Leaguers a chance for leadership as well as experience in trade union agitation. The South Colombo Youth League published an irregular journal in Sinhala, Kamkaruwa (The Worker).
In November 1933 the Youth League radicals initiated a dynamic revival of the Suriya-Mal Movement
Suriya-Mal Movement
The Suriya-Mal Movement was formed in British ruled Ceylon to sell Suriya flowers on Poppy Day for the benefit of Sri Lankan ex-servicemen. The movement became anti-imperialist in character...
. In opposition to the official Poppy Day sponsored by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial administration (which sent the funds it raised to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) the Youth Leagues sold the local Suriya (Portia tree
Portia tree
Thespesia populnea, commonly known as the Portia Tree , is species of flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is a small tree or arborescent shrub that has a pantropical distribution, found on coasts around the world. However, the Portia Tree is probably native only to the Old World,...
) flower, with the proceeds going to Ceylonese ex-servicemen. During the malaria epidemic in 1934-5 these activists did relief work in the disease-stricken areas where over 100,000 people died.
The Ministers of the Ceylon National Congress petitioned the colonial government to increase their powers, instead of demanding full independence, or even dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
status. They were forced to withdraw their 'Ministers' Memorandum' after a vigorous campaign by the Youth Leagues.