139. Editorial Note
In the Ceylonese general election, which began on April 5, Sir Kotelawala and the United National Party were defeated by the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) coalition, under the leadership of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. On April 12, Bandaranaike officially became Prime Minister. The Embassy analyzed the election results in telegram 623, April 13. (Department of State, Central Files, 746E.00/4–1356)
According to telegram 654 from Ceylon, April 25, Bandaranaike told Crowe that he understood Ceylon would not be eligible for aid if it shipped more than 50,000 tons of rubber per year to China, or shipped to China any other commodities which the United States considered strategic. (Ibid., 746E.5–MSP/4–2256)
On April 28, the United States and Ceylon exchanged notes at Colombo for an agreement relating to the development of an assistance program in Ceylon, which entered into force that day. For text, see 7 UST 751.