Top left: D. S. Senanayake became the first prime minister of Ceylon in 1947.
Top right: Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the first female prime minister of Ceylon and also its longest-serving prime minister, holding the office for over 17 years on three separate occasions.
Bottom left: Ranasinghe Premadasa was the longest uninterrupted serving prime minister, holding office for over 10 years from 1978 to 1989.
Bottom right: Ranil Wickremesinghe has served as prime minister four separate times and has been sworn in on six occasions, the most of any Sri Lankan prime minister.
There have been fifteen prime ministers of Sri Lanka since the creation of the position in 1947, prior to the independence of the country (then known as Ceylon). The prime minister of Ceylon was the head of the government until 1972. In 1972, the country was renamed as the Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka, and the position was known as the prime minister of Sri Lanka from then onwards. The prime minister also held the unified Ministry of External Affairs and Defence until 1977, when the government of J. R. Jayewardene split the ministry into two ministries, forming the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1978, after Jayewardene became the president, new constitutional changes were introduced. The position of the executive president was introduced, resulting in the powers of the prime minister being reduced. The president became the head of state and chief executive,[1] and the prime minister became a weak head of government.[2]
Under the current constitution of Sri Lanka, the prime minister is the leader of the Cabinet business and also functions as a deputy to the president. In the event a president dies in office, the prime minister becomes the acting president until the Parliament convenes to elect a successor or new elections can be held to elect a new president. Such was the case in 1993, when President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated and Prime Minister Dingiri Banda Wijetunga took office as president.[3]
Of the fourteen prime ministers who have held the office since the introduction of the position in 1947, one has held the office four times, two have held office thrice, and two have held office twice. Six prime ministers have gone on to become president of the country.[5]
Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as prime minister the most times in the country's history, on six occasions (May 1993, December 2001, January 2015, August 2015, December 2018 and May 2022),[6][7] whilst Dudley Shelton Senanayaka and Sirimavo Bandaranayake have each been appointed three times. Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only prime minister who was suspended from his duties by the Supreme Court,[8][9][10] becoming the first de facto prime minister of Sri Lanka in 2018.
Appointed as Prime Minister following the death of his father, D. S. Senanayake. His party won at the general elections held in 1952, and he continued to hold office without re-appointment. Resigned amidst the 1953 Ceylonese Hartal.[13]
Appointed following the assassination of Bandaranaike. Following disagreements with the members of his government and party, he was forced to dissolve the parliament.[16]
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world's first female prime minister.[17] She was not a member of Parliament at the time of her appointment, and was appointed to the Senate on 2 August 1960.
Senanayake was elected prime minister for the third time, when his party formed a coalition government with the help of six other parties, after an election which did not give a clear majority to any party. The agriculture sector was given high priority during his term of office.[18]
Sirimavo Bandaranaike declared the country a republic, and changed the name of the country from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.[17] Nationalized many companies in the plantation sector and imposed restrictions on several imports. This led to the downfall of the country's economy and her defeat in the 1977 general elections.[17]
Appointed in a surprise move by President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Wijetunga himself reacted in surprise at the appointment.[3] He resigned from the post on 28 March 1990 but was reappointed two days later on 30 March 1990. Ascended to the presidency following Premadasa's assassination.
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was appointed as the prime minister for a third and final term when her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga was appointed as the president of Sri Lanka. Resigned in 2000.[17]
Wickremesinghe's term of office ended early when President Chandrika Kumaratunga dismissed his government and called for a general election in 2004.[23]
Appointed as prime minister of the cabinet that was formed after the elections following the dismissal of Wickremesinghe's government by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He won the presidential elections in 2005 and was appointed President of Sri Lanka.[24]
2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis: Appointed by Sirisena after the incumbent Wickremesinghe was suddenly dismissed by Sirisena. Rajapaksa's term was disputed by Wickremesinghe and Sri Lanka had two concurrent prime ministerial claimants. After failing to conduct a majority support vote in the house, Rajapaksa's duties were suspended by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.[25] Subsequently resigned from office to pave way for Wickremesinghe.[26]
Appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis. On 13 July 2022, he became the acting president of the republic as Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned amidst the protests and was outright elected as president a week later.
The Parliament was known as the "House of Representatives" during the period of 1947–1972
In 1972, the country was named "Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka", and the Parliament was named as the National State Assembly.
Under the constitutional changes of 1978, the country was renamed as the "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", and the Parliament was referred to as "Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka".
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References
General
"Former Prime Ministers" (.html). Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
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