- Monarch (1948–1972) Governor-General
- President of Sri Lanka
- Standards
- Living former heads of state
- References
- External links
{{Politics 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
{{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister | | Reign start | Reign end |
|---|
| 1 | George VI
{{small>(1895–1952)}} | 4 February}} 1948 | 6 February}} 1952 | Windsor | D. S. Senanayake |
|---|
| 2 | Elizabeth II
{{small>(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-GeneralThe 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
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government}}| № | Governor-General
{{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Monarch | Prime Minister | | Took office | Left office |
|---|
| 1 | {{small>(1887–1964) | 4 February}} 1948 | 29 June}} 1949 | George VI | D. S. Senanayake |
|---|
| – | Sir Arthur Wijewardena
{{small>(1887–1964)}} | 29 June}} 1949 | 6 July}} 1949 | George VI | D. S. Senanayake | | 2 | {{small>(1887–1971) | 6 July}} 1949 | 17 July}} 1954 | George VI
Elizabeth II | D. S. Senanayake
D. Senanayake
Kotelawala |
|---|
| 3 | {{small>(1892–1978) | 17 July}} 1954 | 2 March}} 1962 | Elizabeth II | Kotelawala
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Dahanayake
D. Senanayake
S. Bandaranaike |
|---|
| 4 | {{small>(1897–1981) | 2 March}} 1962 | 22 May}} 1972 | Elizabeth II | S. Bandaranaike
D. Senanayake
S. Bandaranaike |
|---|
|
President of Sri LankaUnder 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
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Prime Minister acting as President}}| № | President
{{small|(Birth–Death) | Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation
(at time of appointment) | Prime Minister | | Took office | Left office |
|---|
| Ceremonial President | | 1 | {{small>(1897–1981) | 22 May}} 1972 | 4 February}} 1978 | – | | Independent | Bandaranaike
Jayewardene |
|---|
| Executive President | | 2 | {{small>(1906–1996) | 4 February}} 1978 | 2 January}} 1989 | 1982 | | United National Party | Premadasa |
|---|
| 3 | {{small>(1924–1993) | 2 January}} 1989 | 1 May}} 1993
{{small|(died in office.)}} | 1988 | | United National Party | Wijetunga |
|---|
| 4 | Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
{{small|(1916–2008) | | {{nowrap|1 May}} 1993 | {{nowrap|7 May}} 1993 | – | | United National Party | Wickremesinghe
Kumaratunga |
|---|
| 7 May}} 1993 | 12 November}} 1994 | | 5 | {{small>(1945–) | 12 November}} 1994 | 19 November}} 2005 | 1994
1999 | | {{small>(PA)}} | Kumaratunga
Bandaranaike
Wickremanayake
Wickremesinghe
Rajapaksa |
|---|
| 6 | {{small>(1945–) | 19 November}} 2005 | 9 January}} 2015 | 2005
2010 | | {{small>(UPFA)}} | Wickremanayake
Jayaratne |
|---|
| 7 | {{small>(1951–) | 9 January}} 2015 | Incumbent}} | 2015 | | {{small>(UPFA)}}[1] | Wickremesinghe |
|---|
|
StandardsLiving former heads of stateThere 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|df=y}} | | Chandrika Kumaratunga | 1994–2005 | President of Sri Lanka | 1945|07|29|df=y}} | | Mahinda Rajapaksa | 2005–2015 | President of Sri Lanka | 1945|11|11|df=y}} | |
References1. ^Elected as a New Democratic Front candidate.
External links- World Statesmen – Sri Lanka
- Rulers.org – Sri Lanka
{{Heads of State of Sri Lanka}} 4 : Government of Sri Lanka|Lists of political office-holders in Sri Lanka|Presidents of Sri Lanka|Lists of heads of state |