List of heads of state of Sri Lanka

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This is a list of the heads of state of Ceylon and Sri Lanka, from the foundation 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 Sovereign of Ceylon, who was the same person as the monarch of the United Kingdom. The monarch was represented in Ceylon by a governor-general. 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			Reign			Royal house	Prime minister(s)
#	Portrait	Name	Reign start	Reign end	Duration	Royal house	Prime minister(s)
1		King George VI (1895–1952)	4 February 1948	6 February 1952	4 years, 2 days	House of Windsor	Senanayake
2		Queen Elizabeth II (1926–)	6 February 1952	22 May 1972	20 years, 106 days	House of Windsor	Senanayake Dudley Senanayake Kotelawala Bandaranaike Wijeyananda Dahanayake Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Governors-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. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely 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			Term of office			Monarch(s)	Prime minister(s)
#	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration	Monarch(s)	Prime minister(s)
1		Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore (1887–1964)	4 February 1948	6 July 1949	1 year, 152 days	George VI	Senanayake
2		The Viscount Soulbury (1887–1971)	6 July 1949	17 July 1954	5 days, 11 days	George VI Elizabeth II	Senanayake Dudley Senanayake Kotelawala
3		Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke (1892–1978)	17 July 1954	2 March 1962	7 years, 228 days	Elizabeth II	Kotelawala Bandaranaike Wijeyananda Dahanayake Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike
4		William Gopallawa (1897–1981)	2 March 1962	22 May 1972	10 years, 81 days	Elizabeth II	Sirimavo Bandaranaike Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo 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 the Presidency was modelled on the President of France

Status

Denotes Prime Minister acting as President

Ceremonial

President			Term of office			Political party (at time of election)
#	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Duration	Political party (at time of election)
1		William Gopallawa (1897–1981)	22 May 1972	4 February 1978	5 years, 258 days	Independent

Executive

President			Term of office			Political party (at time of election)
#	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Duration	Political party (at time of election)
2		J. R. Jayewardene (1906–1996)	4 February 1978	2 January 1989	10 years, 333 days	United National Party
3		Ranasinghe Premadasa (1924–1993)	2 January 1989	1 May 1993 (Died in Office)	4 years, 119 days	United National Party
4		Dingiri Banda Wijetunga (1916–2008)	1 May 1993	12 November 1994	1 year, 195 days	United National Party
5		Chandrika Kumaratunga (1945–)	12 November 1994	19 November 2005	11 years, 7 days	Sri Lanka Freedom Party (People's Alliance)
6		Mahinda Rajapaksa (1945–)	19 November 2005	9 January 2015	9 years, 51 days	Sri Lanka Freedom Party (United People's Freedom Alliance)
6		Maithripala Sirisena (1951–)	9 January 2015	Incumbent	7007386424000000000♠1 year, 82 days (as of 31 March 2016)	New Democratic Front (Common Opposition Candidate) later Sri Lanka Freedom Party (United People's Freedom Alliance)

Living former heads of state

Name	Term/Reign	Office	Date of birth
Elizabeth II	1952–1972	Queen of Ceylon	21 April 1926
Chandrika Kumaratunga	1994–2005	President of Sri Lanka	29 July 1945
Mahinda Rajapaksa	2005-2015	President of Sri Lanka	18 November 1945

External links

Heads of State of Ceylon and Sri Lanka

Monarch of Ceylon (1948–1972)	George VI Elizabeth II

President of Sri Lanka (from 1972)	Gopallawa Jayewardene Premadasa Wijetunga Kumaratunga Rajapaksa Sirisena

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