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Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

The Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය Śrī Laṃkā agrāmāthya; Tamil: இலங்கை பிரதமர்) is the most senior member of parliament in the cabinet of ministers in Sri Lanka. They are in charge for their policies and actions to parliament. The President is both head of state and head of government in Sri Lanka. Since 1978, most prime ministers have served as mere deputies to the executive presidency, while at times served as the de-facto head of government.

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
ශ්‍රී ලංකා අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය
இலங்கை பிரதமர்
Emblem of Sri Lanka.svg
Emblem of Sri Lanka
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg
Flag of Sri Lanka
Dinesh Gunawardena (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Dinesh Gunawardena
since 22 July 2022
Style
Member of
Reports toParliament
ResidenceTemple Trees
SeatSri Jayawardenapura Kotte
NominatorParliament of Sri Lanka
AppointerPresident of Sri Lanka
Term lengthFive years
Constituting instrumentConstitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
PrecursorLeader of the House, State Council of Ceylon
Inaugural holderDon Stephen Senanayake
Formation14 October 1947; 77 years ago (1947-10-14)
SuccessionFirst in the
presidential line of succession
SalaryLKR 858,000 annually (2016)[1][2]
WebsitePrime Minister's Office

List of prime ministers

Parties

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title 		Term of office
—
Electoral mandates 		Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Political party
of PM
(Alliance) 		Government Refs
1   DS Senanayake
දොන් ස්ටීවන් සේනානායක
டான் ஸ்டீபன் சேனாநாயக்க
(1883–1952)
Mirigama 		24 September
1947 		22 March
1952 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence United National Party D. S. Senanayake 3rd [3]
1947
The first Prime Minister of Ceylon. The country gained independence from United Kingdom during his term of office.[4]
2   Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි සේනානායක
டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா
(1911–1973)
Dedigama 		26 March
1952 		12 October
1953 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
Minister of Agriculture & Lands
& Minister of Health & Local Government 		United National Party Dudley Senanayake I 3rd
4th 		[3]
1952
Appointed as Prime Minister following the death of his father, D. S. Senanayake. His party won at the general elections held in June 1952, and he continued in the office without a re-appointment. Dudley Senanayake resigned in 1953.[5]
3   Sir John Kotelawala
ශ්‍රිමත් ජෝන් කොතලාවල
சேர் ஜோன் கொத்தலாவலை
CH, KBE, KStJ, CLI
(1897–1980)
Dodangaslanda 		12 October
1953 		12 April
1956 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
& Minister of Minister of Transport & Works 		United National Party Kotelawala 4th [3]
 —
Sri Lanka joined the United Nations under the leadership of Kotelawala.[6]
4   S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
සොලමන් වෙස්ට් රිජ්වේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சாலமன் வெஸ்ட் ரிட்ஜ்வே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கா
(1899–1959)
Attanagalla 		12 April
1956 		26 September
1959 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Sri Lanka Freedom Party S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 5th [3]
1956
Bandaranaike changed the official language of the country from English to Sinhalese. He was assassinated before his term of office ended.[7]
5   Wijeyananda Dahanayake
විජයානන්ද දහනායක
விஜயானந்த தகநாயக்கா
(1902–1997)
Galle 		26 September
1959 		20 March
1960 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Sri Lanka Freedom Party Dahanayake 5th [3]
 —
Dahanayake was appointed following the assassination of Bandaranaike. However, following disagreements with the members of his government and party, he was forced to dissolve the parliament.[8]
(2)   Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි සේනානායක
டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா
(1911–1973)
Dedigama 		21 March
1960 		21 July
1960 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence United National Party Dudley Senanayake II 6th [3]
March 1960
Senanayake's government was defeated after one month. Senanayake continued to serve as Prime Minister until 21 July 1960.
6   Sirimavo Bandaranayake
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000) 		21 July
1960 		25 March
1965 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Sri Lanka Freedom Party Sirimavo Bandaranaike I 7th [3]
July 1960
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world's first female prime minister.[9] She was not a member of Parliament at the time of appointment, and was appointed to the Senate on 2 August 1960.
(2)   Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි සේනානායක
டட்லி சேனநாயக்கா
(1911–1973)
Dedigama 		25 March
1965 		29 May
1970 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence United National Party Dudley Senanayake III 8th [3]
1965
Senanayake was elected Prime Minister for the third time, when his party formed a 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.[10]
(6)   Sirimavo Bandaranayake
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000)
Attanagalla 		29 May
1970 		22 May
1972 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
& Minister of Planning & Employment 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party Sirimavo Bandaranaike II 9th [3]
22 May
1972 		23 July
1977 		10th
1970
Sirimavo Bandaranaike declared the country a republic, and its name was changed from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.[9] Nationalized many companies in the plantation sector and imposed restrictions on several imports. This led to the downfall of the country's economy, and she was defeated in the general elections of 1977, with allegations of corruption which later led to her expulsion from Parliament.[9]
7   Junius Richard Jayewardene
ජුනියස් රිචඩ් ජයවර්ධන
ஜூனியஸ் ரிச்சட் ஜயவர்தனா
(1906–1996)
Colombo West 		23 July
1977 		4 February
1978 		Minister of Defence
Minister of Planning & Economic Affairs
& Minister of Plan Implementation 		United National Party Jayewardene 11th [3]
1977
Introduced the Executive Presidency in 1978, and assumed the position of President of Sri Lanka.[11]
8 Ranasinghe Premadasa
රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාස
ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசா
(1924–1993)
Colombo Central 		6 February
1978 		2 January
1989 		Minister of Local Government, Housing & Construction United National Party Jayewardene 11th
12th 		[3]
 —
Was the first Prime Minister to be appointed after the constitutional changes of 1978, with powers of the position reduced significantly.[12]
9 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
ඩිංගිරි බණ්ඩා විජේතුංග
டிங்கிரி பண்ட விஜேதுங்க
(1916–2008)
Kandy 		6 March
1989 		7 May
1993 		Minister of Finance
& Minister of Labour & Vocational Training 		United National Party Premadasa 13th [3]
1989
Was appointed in a surprise move by the then President, Ranasinghe Premadasa. Wijetunge himself reacted in surprise at the appointment. He resigned from the post on 28 March 1990, but was reappointed two days later, on 30 March 1990.
10   Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(1949–)
Gampaha 		7 May
1993 		19 August
1994 		United National Party Wijetunga 13th [3]
 —
Appointed as the Prime Minister[13] when Wijetunge was appointed as the President of Sri Lanka, following the assassination of the former President, Ranasinghe Premadasa.
11   Chandrika Kumaratunga
චන්ද්‍රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග
சந்திரிகா பண்டாரநாயக்கே குமாரதுங்கா
(1945–)
Gampaha 		19 August
1994 		12 November
1994 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(People's Alliance) 		Wijetunga 14th [3]
1994
Served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for a short period, before contesting in the presidential elections in 1994 and being elected as president.[14]
(6)   Sirimavo Bandaranayake
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000)
National List 		14 November
1994 		9 August
2000 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(People's Alliance) 		Kumaratunga 14th [3]
 —
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was appointed as the Prime Minister when Chandrika Kumaratunga was appointed as the President of Sri Lanka. She resigned in 2000.[9]
12   Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක
ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க
(1933–2016)
Kalutara 		10 August
2000 		7 December
2001 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(People's Alliance) 		Kumaratunga 14th
15th 		[3]
2000
Wickremanayake assumed the office of the Prime Minister following the resignation of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.[15]
(10)   Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(1949–)
Colombo 		9 December
2001 		6 April
2004 		United National Party Kumaratunga 16th [3]
2001
Wickremesinghe's term of office ended early when the then president Chandrika Kumaratunga dismissed his government and called for a general election in 2004.[16]
13   Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மகிந்த ராசபக்ச
(1945–)
Hambantota 		6 April
2004 		19 November
2005 		Ministry of Highways Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(United People's Freedom Alliance) 		Kumaratunga 17th [3]
2004
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 assumed the office of the President of Sri Lanka.[17]
(12)   Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක
ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க
(1933–2016)
National List 		19 November
2005 		21 April
2010 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(United People's Freedom Alliance) 		Mahinda Rajapaksa 17th [3]
 —
Appointed as Prime Minister when Rajapaksa assumed the office of the President of Sri Lanka.[15]
14   D. M. Jayaratne
දිසානායක මුදියන්සේලාගේ ජයරත්න
திசாநாயக்க முதியன்சேலாகே ஜயரத்ன
(1931–2019)
National List 		21 April
2010 		9 January
2015 		Minister of Buddhasasana & Religious Affairs Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(United People's Freedom Alliance) 		Mahinda Rajapaksa 18th [3]
2010
Appointed as Prime Minister after the parliamentary election held in April 2010 was won by the incumbent Freedom Party.
(10)   Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(1949–)
Colombo 		9 January
2015 		26 October
2018 		Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party
 		Sirisena 18th [3]
2015 19th
Appointed as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after winning 2015 presidential election and was re-elected in the 2015 parliamentary election. 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis
(13)   Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மகிந்த ராசபக்ச
(1945–)
Kurunegala de facto 		26 October
2018 		15 December
2018 		Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(United People's Freedom Alliance) 		Sirisena 19th [3]
—
Appointed by Sirisena, after sudden dismissal of incumbent Wickremesinghe. Term was challenged by Wickremesinghe and Sri Lanka had two concurrent Prime ministerial claimants. Failed to conduct a majority support vote in the house. Subsequently, resigned from office, to pave way for Wickremesinghe.[18] Duties suspended by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.[19] 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis
(10)   Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(1949–)
Colombo 		16 December
2018 		21 November
2019 		Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party Sirisena 19th [3]
–
Restored as Prime Minister after the 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis.
(13)   Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மகிந்த ராசபக்ச
(1945–)
Kurunegala 		21 November
2019 		9 May
2022 		Minister of Finance Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(United People's Freedom Alliance) 		Gotabaya Rajapaksa 19th [3]
—
Appointed immediately by Gotabaya, following the resignation of Ranil Wickremesinghe.
(10)   Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(1949–)
Colombo 		12 May
2022 		20 July
2022 		United National Party Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Ranil Wickremesinghe 		19th [3]
—
Appointed immediately by Gotabaya, following the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa. He left office on 20 July 2022, when he was elected president.
15   [[Dinesh Gunawardena|Template:Small caps Gunawardena]]
දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන
தினேஷ் குணவர்தன
(1949–)
Colombo 		22 July
2022 		Incumbent Minister of Home Affairs Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Wickremesinghe 16th [3]
–
2 years, 4 months and 28 days
Appointed by Ranil Wickremesinghe

Living former prime ministers

Prime Minister Term of office Date of birth
Chandrika Kumaratunga 1994–1994 (1945-06-29) 29 June 1945 (age 79)
Mahinda Rajapaksa 2004–2005,
2018,
2019–2022 		(1945-11-18) 18 November 1945 (age 79)
Ranil Wickremesinghe 1993–1994,
2001–2004,
2015–2019,
2022 		(1949-03-24) 24 March 1949 (age 75)

The most recent death of a former Prime Minister was that of D. M. Jayaratne (2010–2015) on 18 November 2019, aged 88.

Prime Minister Of Sri Lanka Media

  • The first Prime Minister of Ceylon with his Cabinet members

References

  1. ↑ Thomas, Kris (21 November 2016). "Of Ministers' Salaries And Parliamentary Perks". Roar.lk. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Kavindya Chris (20 November 2016). Do MPs get fat salaries?. Ceylontoday.lk. http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20161101CT20161231.php?id=9644. Retrieved 30 August 2017. 
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 "Prime Ministers". Parliament.lk. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Senanayake, Don Stephen (1884–1952)" Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine . The History Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  5. ↑ Buddhika Kurukularatne (2007-06-19). "Dudley – the reluctant Prince" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  6. ↑ K. T. Rajasingham (2001-11-17). "Sri Lanka: The Untold Story" Archived 2018-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  7. ↑ "Bandaranaike, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias". history.com. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  8. ↑ "Short Term" Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine. Time. 1959-12-14. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Sirimavo Bandaranaike: First woman premier". BBC News. 2000-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  10. ↑ Neville de Silva. "A Prime Minister who knew his onions" Archived 29 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine . UK Lanka Times. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  11. ↑ "Former Sri Lanka president dies, leaves mixed legacy"[dead link]. CNN. 1996-11-01. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  12. ↑ Barbara Crossette (1988-12-21). "MAN IN THE NEWS: Ranasinghe Premadasa; Sri Lankan At the Top". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
  13. ↑ "Profile: Ranil Wickramasinghe". BBC News. 2005-11-22. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  14. ↑ "Hon Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (1994–2005)" Archived 3 June 2004 at the Wayback Machine . The official website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 V.S. Sambandan (2005-11-22). "Ratnasiri Wickremanayake appointed Sri Lankan Premier" Archived 2012-11-10 at the Wayback Machine. The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  16. ↑ "Sri Lanka" Archived 22 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine . The History Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  17. ↑ "President's Profile" Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine . The President's Fund of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  18. ↑ Sri Lanka parliament passes no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa - world news - Hindustan Times
  19. ↑ SC grants leave to proceed with Mahinda’s appeal
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