Governor-General of Ceylon

Last updated

Governor-General of Ceylon
Coat of Arms Ceylon dominion.svg
Emblem of the Dominion of Ceylon
Flag of the Governor-General of Ceylon (1953-1972).svg
Flag of the governor-general
from 1953 to 1972
Viceregal
Style His Excellency the Right Honourable
StatusAbolished
Residence Queen's House, Colombo
Appointer Monarch of Ceylon
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term length At Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation4 February 1948
First holder Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
Final holder William Gopallawa
Abolished22 May 1972

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

Contents

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

Governor-General William Gopallawa meeting Vice Chairman Soong Ching Ling of Taiwan, 1964 1964-05 1964Nian 2Yue Song Qing Ling Fu Zhu Xi Fang Wen Xi Lan Yu Xi Lan Zong Du Wei Lian *Gao Bo La Wa Fu Fu .jpg
Governor-General William Gopallawa meeting Vice Chairman Soong Ching Ling of Taiwan, 1964

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 secretaries. 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:

List of governors-general of Ceylon

Following is a list of people who have served as governor-general of Ceylon. [3]

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMonarch
(Reign)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Coat of arms of the Dominion of Ceylon.svg Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
(1887–1964)
4 February
1948
6 July
1949
1 year, 152 days King George VI LOC matpc.14736 A (cropped).jpg
George VI
(1948–1952)
2 Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury.jpg Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
(1887–1971)
6 July
1949
17 July
1954
5 years, 11 days
Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg
Elizabeth II
(1952–1972)
3 Sir Oliver Goonetilleke.gif Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke
(1892–1978)
17 July
1954
2 March
1962
7 years, 228 days
4 William Gopallawa
(1897–1981)
2 March
1962
22 May
1972
10 years, 81 days

Flag of the governor-general

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Australia</span> Representative of the monarch of Australia

The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch of Australia, currently King Charles III, and performs many constitutional, ceremonial and community roles in the Australian political system. When performing these roles, the governor-general acts independently and is not the King's delegate or agent. The current governor-general is David Hurley, having been appointed on 1 July 2019.

In a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government, a reserve power, also known as discretionary power, is a power that may be exercised by the head of state without the approval of another branch or part of the government. Unlike in a presidential system of government, the head of state is generally constrained by the cabinet or the legislature in a parliamentary system, and most reserve powers are usable only in certain exceptional circumstances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Sri Lanka</span> Executive head of state of Sri Lanka

The president of Sri Lanka is the head of state and head of government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The president is the chief executive of the union government and the commander-in-chief of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Barbados</span> Representative of the monarch of Barbados

The governor-general of Barbados was the representative of the Barbadian monarch from independence in 1966 until the establishment of a republic in 2021. Under the government's Table of Precedence for Barbados, the governor-general of Barbados was regarded as being the most important of all personnel of the Barbados government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Belize</span> Representative of the monarch of Belize

The governor-general of Belize is the representative of the Belizean monarch, currently King Charles III, in Belize. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister of Belize. The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by the National Assembly; and issuing writs for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Grenada</span> Representative of the monarch of Grenada

The governor-general of Grenada is the representative of the Grenadian monarch, currently King Charles III, in Grenada. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister of Grenada. The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by the Grenadian Parliament; and issuing writs for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Jamaica</span> Representative of the monarch of Jamaica

The governor-general of Jamaica is the representative of the Jamaican monarch, currently King Charles III, in Jamaica. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister of Jamaica. The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by parliament; issuing writs for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Saint Lucia</span> Representative of the monarch of Saint Lucia

The governor-general of Saint Lucia is the representative of the Saint Lucian monarch, currently King Charles III, in Saint Lucia. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister of Saint Lucia. The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by parliament; issuing writs for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Trinidad and Tobago</span> Head of state

The president of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the head of state of Trinidad and Tobago and the commander-in-chief of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1976, before which the head of state was the Queen of Trinidad and Tobago, Elizabeth II. The last governor-general, Sir Ellis Clarke, was sworn in as the first president on 1 August 1976 under a transitional arrangement. He was formally chosen as president by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament on 24 September 1976, which is now celebrated as Republic Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament of Sri Lanka</span> Supreme legislative body of Sri Lanka

The Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the supreme legislative body of Sri Lanka. It alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all other political bodies in the island. It is modeled after the British Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of the Bahamas</span> Representative of the monarch of The Bahamas

The governor-general of The Bahamas is the representative of the Bahamian monarch, currently King Charles III, in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister of The Bahamas. The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by parliament; issuing writs for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor-General of Solomon Islands</span> Representative of the monarch of Solomon Islands

The governor-general of Solomon Islands is the representative of the Solomon Islands' monarch, currently King Charles III, in Solomon Islands. The governor-general is appointed by the monarch after their nomination by the National Parliament by vote, although the monarch is not bound to accept that nomination for appointment. The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by parliament; and issuing writs for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Kotelawala</span> 3rd Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

General Sir John Lionel Kotelawala was a Sri Lankan statesman, who served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Ceylon from 1953 to 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Goonetilleke</span> Sri Lankan statesman

Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke was a Sri Lankan statesman. Having served as an important figure in the gradual independence of Ceylon from Britain, he became the third Governor-General of Ceylon (1954–1962). He was the first Ceylonese individual to hold the vice-regal post.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governors of British Ceylon</span> Colonial administrator

The governor of Ceylon was the representative in Ceylon of the British Crown from 1795 to 1948. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Ceylon. The governor was the head of the British colonial administration in Ceylon, reporting to the Colonial Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka</span> Presiding officer of the Parliament of Sri Lanka

The Speaker of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the presiding officer of the chamber. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, in office since 20 August 2020. The Speaker fulfills a number of important functions in relation to the operation of the House, which is based upon the British Westminster parliamentary system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Dias Bandaranaike</span> Ceylonese colonial headman (1862–1946)

Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, was a Ceylonese colonial-era headmen. He was appointed as Head Mudaliyar and the aide-de-camp to the British Governor of Ceylon, therefore he was one of the most powerful personalities in British colonial Ceylon.

President's House is the official residence and workplace of the President of Sri Lanka, located at Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Since 1804 it had been the residence of British Governors and Governors-General and was known as the "King's House" or the "Queen's House" until Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senate of Ceylon</span>

The Senate was the upper chamber of the parliament of Ceylon established in 1947 by the Soulbury Commission. The Senate was appointed and indirectly elected rather than directly elected. It was housed in the old Legislative Council building in Colombo Fort and met for the first time on 12 November 1947. The Senate was abolished on 2 October 1971 by the eighth amendment to the Soulbury Constitution, prior to the adoption of the new Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka on 22 May 1972. In 2010 there were proposals to reintroduce the Senate.

The Maha Mudaliyar was a colonial title and office in Ceylon. Head Mudaliyar functioned as the head of the low country native headmen and native aide-de-camp to the Governor of Ceylon.

References

  1. "Ceylon Constitution Order in Council 1946". Tamilnation. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Cooray, L.J.M. (1984). Constitutional Government in Sri Lanka (First ed.). Colombo: Lake House Printers and Publishers.
  3. "Parliament of Sri Lanka - Heads of State".