| Description | Track 1: test signal 0.54 mins
Interview with unidentified man who discusses politicians who go to their electorate with capitalist symbols like big cars and the reaction of people to this. He talks about the election of the 'People's Government' under Mr Bandaranaike in 1956 (tracks 2-3).
Track 4: silence 0.24 mins
The interview continues. The man discusses how people became conscious of the power of the vote in the 1956 election, the background of the Prime Minister, Mr Bandaranaike, his return to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from England, and his attempts to learn the languages of the people and to wear national dress. He goes on to talk about the transfer of power to Mr Bandaranaike's successor, reforms in local government and the establishment of village committees, the emerging importance of national culture, the growth of literature, poetry and drama in Sinhalese and the Buddhist movement. He mentions the Buddhist reforms that Mr Bandaranaike promised to implement and gives details of some of the grievances the Buddhist monks had (tracks 5-10)
Track 11: break in recording 0.37 mins
The interview continues. The man continues to talk about discrimination against Buddhists in the armed services and government administrationin favour of Christian candidates, despite them making up 65% of the population, Buddhist children having to attend Christian missionary schools, and the system continuing after Independence. He discusses the legacy of colonial rule, Mr Bandaranaike's interest in Buddhism despite his Christian background and the meaning of Sinhalese names (tracks 12-14).
Track 15: silence 7.33 mins
Total: 32.20 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF565D0360980 |