Governor-General of Ceylon

The Governor-general of Ceylon was the representative of the monarch in the Dominion of Ceylon from the country's independence from the United Kingdom in 1948 until it became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972.[1]

Governor-General of Ceylon
Coat of Arms of the Dominion of Ceylon
StyleExcellency
ResidenceQueen's House
AppointerMonarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister
PrecursorGovernor of British Ceylon
Formation4 February 1948
First holderSir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
Final holderWilliam Gopallawa
Abolished22 May 1972
SuccessionPresident of Sri Lanka
Salary£8,000 a year

History

There were four governors-general.

Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore became the last Governor of Ceylon and first governor-general when the Ceylon Order in Council, the first constitution of independent Ceylon came into effect. He was followed by Lord Soulbury, thereafter by Oliver Goonetilleke the first Ceylonese to be appointed to the post. When William Gopallawa was appointed as Governor-General in 1962, he discarded the ceremonial uniform of office.

When Ceylon became a republic in 1972 the post was replaced by the office of President of Sri Lanka.

Functions

The monarch, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appointed a governor-general to be his/her representative in Ceylon. Neither the monarch nor the Governor-General had any direct role in the day-today administration of the country (however, both possessed reserve powers under the constitution which would allow them full control of the nation's governance whenever in their opinion a case of emergency requiring such action arises). Real legislative and executive responsibilities rested with the elected representatives of the people. During several periods when a state of emergency was declared the Governor-General used his reserved powers. In the absence of the governor-general, the Chief Justice of Ceylon became acting Governor-General.

The Governor-General's powers and functions was informally divided into three areas: powers exercised on the advice of the prime minister, discretionary powers exercised on own ceremonial and social.

Powers exercised on the advice of the prime minister

The governor-general was required to assent all bills passed in parliament to become an Act, by convention all bills received assent. In addition, the constitution and other legislation granted the governor-general powers to be carried out on advice of the prime minister, these included;[2]

Discretionary powers

The governor-general had the discretionary powers to appoint the prime minister, dissolve parliament and dismissal of a government that refuses to resign. The governor-general administers the oath of office of ministers and parliamentary sectaries. It is to the governor-general they would tender their resignations too.[2]

Constitutional role

The governor-general represented the monarch on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of Parliament, the presentation of honours and military parades. Under the Constitution, he was given authority to act in some matters, for example in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service, in proroguing Parliament and so on, but only in a few cases was he empowered to act entirely on his own discretion.[2]

Governor-General's Staff

The Governor-General had a permanent staff that was based at the Queen's House to assist in execution of his duties.

The Governor-General several Extra Aides-de-camp to serve on a permanent or ad-hoc basis. The Governor-General also maintained a ceremonial Lascarin Guard.

Residence

The official residence and office of the governor-general was the Queen's House (currently the President's House) in Colombo. Other Governor-General residences include:

Governors-general of Ceylon
Governor-Generals of Ceylon 1948–1972[3]
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Sovereign
1 Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
GCMG KStJ
(1887–1964)		 4 February 1948 6 July 1949 George VI
2 Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
GCMG GCVO OBE MC PC
(1887–1971)		 6 July 1949 1953
Elizabeth II
– Acting
Justice Arthur Wijewardena
(1887–1964)		 1953 1953
2 Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
GCMG GCVO OBE MC PC
(1887–1971)		 1953 1954
– Acting
Justice C. Nagalingam
KC
(1893–1958)		 1954 1954
2 Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
GCMG GCVO OBE MC PC
(1887–1971)		 1954 17 July 1954
3 Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke
GCMG KCVO KBE
(1892–1978)		 17 July 1954 2 March 1962
4 William Gopallawa
MBE
(1897–1981)		 2 March 1962 22 May 1972

Flag of the governor-general
  • Flag used from 1948 to 1953
  • Flag used from 1953 to 1972

References
  1. "Ceylon Constitution Order in Council 1946". Tamilnation. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  2. Cooray, L.J.M. (1984). Constitutional Government in Sri Lanka (First ed.). Colombo: Lake House Printers and Publishers.
  3. Lentz, Harris M. (1994). Heads of States and Governments Since 1945. New York.: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 704. ISBN 1-884964-44-3. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
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