“Today is the appointed Day and the New Dominion of Ceylon was born shortly after midnight. The day is being observed as a public holiday.
From today His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will have no responsibility for the Government of Ceylon and Ceylon will be included in the definition of “Dominion” in the Para (23) of the section 190 of the Army Act and the Air Force Act.
The Colonial Laws Validity Act, 1805 will not apply to any law made after today by the Parliament of Ceylon, and no law or any provision of any law made after today by the Parliament of Ceylon will be void or inoperative on the ground that it is repugnant to the law of England, or to the provisions of any existing or any future Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Ceylon will now be able to apply to the U.N.O for membership and its application will have the support of the U.K. She will be able to appoint her own diplomatic representatives or to use those of the U.K if she offers to do so. ......”
(Extracted From Ceylon Daily News, Page 1, February 4, 1948 )
