From 1948 to 1972, under the Ceylon Independence Act of 1947, the
head of state was the
Monarch of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional monarchy, constitutional form of government by which a hereditary monarchy, hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United ...
who was represented in Ceylon by a
Governor-General
Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...
. Ceylon became a republic under the
Constitution of 1972 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial
President. Since 1978, under the current
constitution, the President has executive powers, becoming both head of state and government.
Monarch (1948–1972)
From 1948 to 1972 the
head of state of Ceylon was the same person as the
Monarch of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional monarchy, constitutional form of government by which a hereditary monarchy, hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United ...
. The
Governor-General of Ceylon exercised the duties of the head of state.
Governors-General
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
Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode.
Acting involves a broad r ...
President.
In 1978 Constitution the Presidency became an executive post, the rules was the same as the 1972 Constitution.
;Status
Standards
File:Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon (1948–1952).svg, Governor-General's Standard (1948–1952)
File:Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon (1953-1972).svg, Governor-General's Standard (1952–1972)
File:President Gopallawa's flag.gif, Presidential Standard of William Gopallawa
File:Junius Jayawardene's flag.gif, Presidential Standard of J. R. Jayewardene
File:Ranasinghe Premadasa's flag .gif, Presidential Standard of Ranasinghe Premadasa
File:DBWijethunge President Standard .jpg, Presidential Standard of Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
File:Presidential Flag of Chandrika Kumaratunga.gif, Presidential Standard of Chandrika Kumaratunga
File:Presidential Flag of Mahinda Rajapaksa.gif, Presidential Standard of Mahinda Rajapaksa
File:Presidential Standard of Sri Lanka (Maithripala Sirisena).svg, Presidential Standard of Maithripala Sirisena
File:Presidential Standard of Sri Lanka (Gotabaya Rajapaksa).gif, Presidential Standard of Gotabaya Rajapaksa
References
External links
World Statesmen – Sri Lanka
{{Heads of State of Sri Lanka
Government of Sri Lanka
H
*
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...