List of heads of state of Sri Lanka

This is a list of the heads of state of Ceylon and Sri Lanka, from the independence of the Dominion of Ceylon in 1948 to the present day.

From 1948 to 1972 the head of state under the Ceylon Independence Act 1947 was the same person as the Monarch of the United Kingdom, who was represented in Ceylon by a Governor-General, who exercised the duties of the head of state. Ceylon became a republic under the Constitution of 1972 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President. In 1978, under the current Constitution, the President gained executive powers, becoming head of state and government.

Monarch (1948–1972)

The succession to the throne of Ceylon was the same as the succession to the British throne.

Monarch
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Reign Royal House Prime Minister
Reign start Reign end
1 King George VI
(1895–1952)
4 February 1948 6 February 1952 Windsor D. S. Senanayake
2 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)
6 February 1952 22 May 1972 Windsor D. S. Senanayake
D. Senanayake
Kotelawala
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Dahanayake
D. Senanayake
S. Bandaranaike
D. Senanayake
S. Bandaranaike

Governor-General

The Governor-General was the representative of the Monarch in Ceylon and exercised most of the powers of the Monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the Monarch. The Governor-General was appointed on the advice of the Cabinet of Ceylon without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
Governor-General
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Tenure Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office
1 Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
(1887–1964)
4 February 1948 29 June 1949 George VI D. S. Senanayake
Sir Arthur Wijewardena
(1887–1964)
29 June 1949 6 July 1949 George VI D. S. Senanayake
2 The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Soulbury
(1887–1971)
6 July 1949 17 July 1954 George VI
Elizabeth II
D. S. Senanayake
D. Senanayake
Kotelawala
3 Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke
(1892–1978)
17 July 1954 2 March 1962 Elizabeth II Kotelawala
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Dahanayake
D. Senanayake
S. Bandaranaike
4 William Gopallawa
(1897–1981)
2 March 1962 22 May 1972 Elizabeth II S. Bandaranaike
D. Senanayake
S. Bandaranaike

President of Sri Lanka

Under the 1972 Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka, the President replaced the Monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Prime Minister served as Acting President.

In 1978 Constitution the Presidency became an executive post, the rules was the same as the 1972 Constitution.

Status
  Denotes Prime Minister acting as President
President
(Birth–Death)
Portrait Tenure Elected Political affiliation
(at time of appointment)
Prime Minister
Took office Left office
Ceremonial President
1 William Gopallawa
(1897–1981)
22 May 1972 4 February 1978 Independent Bandaranaike
Jayewardene
Executive President
2 J. R. Jayewardene
(1906–1996)
4 February 1978 2 January 1989 1982 United National Party Premadasa
3 Ranasinghe Premadasa
(1924–1993)
2 January 1989 1 May 1993
(assassinated.)
1988 United National Party Wijetunga
4 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
(1916–2008)
1 May 1993 7 May 1993 United National Party Wickremesinghe
Kumaratunga
7 May 1993 12 November 1994
5 Chandrika Kumaratunga
(1945–)
12 November 1994 19 November 2005 1994
1999
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(PA/UPFA)
Kumaratunga
Bandaranaike
Wickremanayake
Wickremesinghe
Rajapaksa
6 Mahinda Rajapaksa
(1945–)
19 November 2005 9 January 2015 2005
2010
Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(UPFA)
Wickremanayake
Jayaratne
7 Maithripala Sirisena
(1951–)
9 January 2015 18 November 2019 2015 Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(UPFA)[1]
Wickremesinghe
8 Gotabaya Rajapaksa
(1949–)
18 November 2019 Incumbent 2019 Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(SLPFA)
M.Rajapaksa

Standards

Living former heads of state

There are three living former Sri Lankan heads of state:

Image Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1952–1972 Queen of Ceylon (1926-04-21) 21 April 1926
Chandrika Kumaratunga 1994–2005 President of Sri Lanka (1945-07-29) 29 July 1945
Mahinda Rajapaksa 2005–2015 President of Sri Lanka (1945-11-11) 11 November 1945

References

  1. Elected as a New Democratic Front candidate.
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