Due to Ceylonese demands for constitutional reform, a royal commission was established by the British authorities under the chairmanship of the Earl of Donoughmore.

The Donoughmore Commission arrived in the colony in 1927, before returning to the United Kingdom where it issued its report.

Each committee consisted of designated members of the State Council, and was chaired by an elected Ceylonese who was addressed as minister.

Based on the report by the Soulbury Commission, a new constitution was created, by which the State Council was replaced by a Parliament, elections for which were conducted in 1947.

The State Council consisted of 58 members, of whom 50 were elected by universal suffrage, and 8 appointed by the Governor.