According to Sri Lanka: A Country Study, Ceylon achieved independence from Britain on 4 February 1948 (1990, 183). The formal name of the country changed from Dominion of Ceylon to Republic of Sri Lanka under the second constitution of 1972 (1990, 184), and again under the 1978 constitution to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (ibid., 185; Cooray 1989, iii).

Encyclopedia of the Third World states that the 1972 constitution changed the name of Ceylon to Sri Lanka (1992, 1780), while The New Encyclopaedia Britannica states that in the 1972 constitution, Ceylon was proclaimed the Republic of Sri Lanka (1989, 193).

According to Encyclopedia of the Third World, the constitution of 22 May 1972 was amended by parliament on 4 October 1977 and promulgated on 7 September 1978 (1992, 1780).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Cooray, Joseph A.L. 1989. Vol. 18. "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka," Constitutions of the Countries of the World. Edited by Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 3. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File.

The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1989. 15th ed. Vol. 28. Edited by Philip Goetz. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Sri Lanka: A Country Study. 1990. Edited by Russell R. Ross and Andrea Matles Savada. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army.

Cooray, Joseph A.L. 1989. Vol. 18. "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka," Constitutions of the Countries of the World. Edited by Albert P. Blaustein and Gisbert H. Flanz. Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, pp. ii-iii.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 3. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File, p. 1780.

Sri Lanka: A Country Study. 1990. Edited by Russell R. Ross and Andrea Matles Savada. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army, pp. 183-85.