[1] It was founded during a period where nationalism and support for the Sri Lankan independence movement grew quite intensely amidst British colonial rule in Ceylon.
[2] The Ceylon National Congress played an instrumental role in the Sri Lankan independence movement.
[3] Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was the founding president of the party.
[4] In October 1920, Sir James Peiris was elected president, staunchly supported by F. R. Senanayake and future prime minister D. S.
In 1943, D. S. Senanayake resigned from the Congress because he disagreed with its revised aim of achieving full freedom from the British Empire, preferring Dominion status.