Section I

I. WHEREAS by Act XIV. of 1830 it was enacted, that every person who should make with any Native of India any contract for labor to be performed in any British of Foreign Colony without the Territories of the East India Company, or who should knowingly abet or aid any Native of India in emigrating from the said Territories for the purpose of being employed as a laborer, should be liable on conviction before a Magistrate or Justice of the Peace, to a fine not exceeding 200 Rupees for every Native so contracted with, aided or abetted, and in default of payment of such fine, should be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three months: Provided always that nothing in that Act contained should be taken to apply to any Native Seaman who should of his own free will contract to navigate any Vessel, or who should embark on board such Vessel in pursuance of such contract, or to any person who should contract to serve as a Menial Servant only, or who should embark as such Menial Servant: And Whereas the Island of Ceylon geographically, historically and socially considered is analogous to the Countries subject to the Government of the East India Company: It is hereby enacted, that Act XIV. of 1839 in so far as it makes liable to penalties every person who shall make with any Native of India any contract for labor to be performed in the said Island, or who shall knowingly aid or abet any Native of India in emigrating from the Territories subject to the Government of the East India Company to the said Island, is repealed.