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Ceylon - The New Dominion (Original title)Monthly Film Review Issue No. 17 Second Year (Alternative title)
Date: March 1948 (Release)

Country: United Kingdom



Shotlist: RL.1 Opening shots of an arch in Colombo and Ceylonese people. After the achievement of full independence, the opening of the new Parliament by the Duke of Gloucester is shown. A brief historical resume of the country is given whilst ruin of former towns, palaces and temples are shown. British policy and achievements in Ceylon are then explained. Ceylonese children are shown going to school. University education is given. Health services progress. At Polonnaruwa, an agricultural station is set up. A volunteer corp produces trained farmers. During the monsoon, fields and villages are flooded, so reservoirs are built and the land is irrigated. Shots of peasants working in the paddy-fields. Often primitive methods are still used - Shots of sowing by hand. Tea is a major export - Shots of chests being loaded onto a ship (880 ft). RL.2 Elephants are used for loading tree-trunks as are cranes. Shots of tea-pickers in the fields and of rubber trees being cut. Ceylon also produces coconut oil and fibres which are twisted into ropes. Germs are dug from the ground and polished. Shots of Colombo's port. The different religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Moslem and Christianity, are emphasised. Temples and religious festivals are shown. In 1947, a general election is held. Representatives of the different parties, including Mr. Bandaranaike. Shots of women voting at the polling stations. Mr. Bandaranaike wins the election and forms his cabinet. The problems which the government has to face are outlined:- housing conditions, cultivation of arid soil, food rationing, hospital services, citizenship of Indians working in Ceylon. Finally, comments on Ceylon's relationship with Britain (1792 ft).

Genres:
Documentary, Interest film

Subjects:
British Raj, Sri Lanka, Independence, General elections, Education, Industries, trades and crafts, Agriculture, Temples

Series title:

Releases
Date: March 1948Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: 35mm Film - Black and White - SoundRuntime: 20 mins Length: 1804 FeetLanguage: English

Credits (3)
Production Company: This Modern Age Ltd., Presents: J. Arthur Rank, Distributor: General Film Distributors