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Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

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Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
ශ්‍රී ලංකා අග්‍රාමාත්‍ය
இலங்கை பிரதமர்
Emblem of Sri Lanka
Flag of Sri Lanka
Incumbent
Harini Amarasuriya
since 24 September 2024
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

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.

List of prime ministers

[change | change source]
Parties

  United National Party (7)   Sri Lanka Freedom Party (7)   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (1)   Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (1)   National People's Power (1)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency/Title 		Term of office
Electoral mandates
Time in office 		Other ministerial offices
held while Prime Minister 		Political party
of PM
(Alliance) 		Government Refs
1 D. S. 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 1st [3]
1947
4 years, 5 months and 27 days
The first Prime Minister of Ceylon. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom during his term of office. Died in office.[4]
2 Dudley Senanayake
ඩඩ්ලි ෂෙල්ටන් සෙනානායක
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 1st
2nd 		[3]
1952
1 year, 6 months and 16 days
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.[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 Transport & Works 		United National Party Kotelawala 2nd [3]
 —
2 years and 6 months
Sri Lanka joined the United Nations during Kotelawala's term of office.[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
(Mahajana Eksath Peramuna) 		S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike 3rd [3]
1956
3 years, 5 months and 14 days
Bandaranaike changed the official language of the country from English to Sinhalese. He was assassinated during his term of office.[7]
5 Wijeyananda Dahanayake
විජයානන්ද දහනායක
விஜயானந்த தகநாயக்கா
(1902–1997)
Galle 		26 September
1959 		20 March
1960 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Dahanayake 3rd [3]
 —
5 months and 23 days
Appointed following the assassination of Bandaranaike. 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 4th [3]
March 1960
4 months
Senanayake's government was defeated within a month. Senanayake continued to serve as prime minister until 21 July 1960.
6 Sirimavo Bandaranaike
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 5th [3]
July 1960
4 years, 8 months and 4 days
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world's first female prime minister.[9] She was not a member of Parliament at the time of her 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 6th [3]
1965
5 years, 2 months and 4 days
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.[10]
(6) Sirimavo Bandaranaike
සිරිමාවො රත්වත්තේ ඩයස් බණ්ඩාරනායක
சிறிமா ரத்வத்தே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கே
(1916–2000)
Attanagalla 		29 May
1970 		23 July
1977 		Minister of External Affairs and Defence
& Minister of Planning & Employment 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party Sirimavo Bandaranaike II 7th [3]
1970
7 years, 1 month and 24 days
Sirimavo Bandaranaike declared the country a republic, and changed the name of the country 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 her defeat in the 1977 general elections.[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 8th [3]
1977
6 months and 12 days
Introduced the executive presidency in 1978 and became president.[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 8th [3]
 —
10 years, 10 months and 27 days
The first prime minister to be appointed after the constitutional changes of 1978, with the powers of the position reduced significantly.[12]
9 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
ඩිංගිරි බණ්ඩා විජේතුංග
டிங்கிரி பண்ட விஜேதுங்க
(1916–2008)
Yatinuwara 		6 March
1989 		7 May
1993 		Minister of Finance
& Minister of Labour & Vocational Training 		United National Party Premadasa 9th [3]
1989
4 years, 2 months and 1 day
Appointed in a surprise move by President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Wijetunga himself reacted in surprise at the appointment.[13] 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.
10 Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Biyagama 		7 May
1993 		19 August
1994 		United National Party Wijetunga 9th [3]
 —
1 year, 3 months and 12 days
Appointed as prime minister following the assassination of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa and Wijetunga's ascension to the presidency.[14]
11 Chandrika Kumaratunga
චන්ද්‍රිකා බණ්ඩාරනායක කුමාරතුංග
சந்திரிகா பண்டாரநாயக்கே குமாரதுங்கா
(born 1945)
Attanagalla 		19 August
1994 		12 November
1994 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(People's Alliance) 		Wijetunga 10th [3]
1994
2 months and 24 days
Served as the prime minister for a short period, before contesting in the 1994 presidential elections and being elected as president.[15]
(6) Sirimavo Bandaranaike
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 10th [3]
 —
5 years, 8 months and 26 days
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.[9]
12 Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක
ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க
(1933–2016)
Horana 		10 August
2000 		7 December
2001 		Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(People's Alliance) 		Kumaratunga 10th
11th 		[3]
2000
1 year, 3 months and 27 days
Wickremanayake assumed the office of prime minister following the resignation of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.[16]
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Colombo 		9 December
2001 		6 April
2004 		United National Party
(United National Front) 		Kumaratunga 12th [3]
2001
2 years, 3 months and 28 days
Wickremesinghe's term of office ended early when President Chandrika Kumaratunga dismissed his government and called for a general election in 2004.[17]
13 Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ
(born 1945)
Hambantota 		6 April
2004 		19 November
2005 		Ministry of Highways Sri Lanka Freedom Party
(United People's Freedom Alliance) 		Kumaratunga 13th [3]
2004
1 year, 7 months and 13 days
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.[18]
(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 13th [3]
 —
4 years, 5 months and 2 days
Appointed as prime minister when Rajapaksa assumed the presidency.[16]
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 14th [3]
2010
4 years, 8 months and 19 days
Appointed as prime minister after the incumbent Sri Lanka Freedom Party won the parliamentary elections held in April 2010.
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Colombo 		9 January
2015 		26 October
2018 		Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party
(United National Front for Good Governance) 		Sirisena I 14th [3]
2015 Sirisena II 15th
3 years, 9 months and 17 days
Appointed as prime minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after his victory in the 2015 presidential elections and was re-elected in the 2015 parliamentary elections.
(13) Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ
(born 1945)
Kurunegala (de facto) 		26 October
2018 		15 December
2018 		Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Sirisena III 15th [3]
—
1 month and 19 days
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.[19] Subsequently resigned from office to pave way for Wickremesinghe.[20]
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
Colombo 		16 December
2018 		21 November
2019 		Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party
(United National Front for Good Governance) 		Sirisena IV 15th [3]
 —
11 months and 5 days
Restored as prime minister after the 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis. Resigned in 2019.
(13) Mahinda Rajapaksa
මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ
மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ
(born 1945)
Kurunegala 		21 November
2019 		9 May
2022 		Minister of Finance
Minister of Urban Development & Housing
Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious & Cultural Affairs 		Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance) 		Gotabaya Rajapaksa I 15th [3]
2020 Gotabaya Rajapaksa II 16th
2 years, 5 months and 18 days Gotabaya Rajapaksa III
Appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following the resignation of Ranil Wickremesinghe after the 2019 presidential election and was re-elected in the 2020 parliamentary elections. Much of his tenure was plagued with major economic and political crises. Resigned amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan protests.
(10) Ranil Wickremesinghe
රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ
ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க
(born 1949)
National List 		12 May
2022 		21 July
2022 		Minister of Finance United National Party Gotabaya Rajapaksa IV 16th [3]
 —
2 months and 9 days
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.
15 Dinesh Gunawardena
දිනේෂ් ගුණවර්ධන
தினேஷ் குணவர்தன
(born 1949)
Colombo 		22 July
2022 		23 September
2024 		Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
(Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance) 		Wickremesinghe 16th [3]
 —
2 years, 2 months and 1 day
Appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe following his ascension to the presidency. Resigned in 2024.
16 Harini Amarasuriya
හරිනි අමරසූරිය
ஹரிணி அமரசூரிய
(born 1970)
National List 		24 September
2024 		Incumbent Minister of Justice
Minister of Education
Minister of Labour
Minister of Investments
Minister of Health
Minister of Science and Technology
Minister of Industries 		National People's Power Dissanayake 16th [3]
 —
1 month and 27 days
Appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake following the resignation of Dinesh Gunawardena after the 2024 presidential election. Third female prime minister of Sri Lanka.

Living former prime ministers

[change | change source]
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)
Dinesh Gunawardena 2022–2024 (1949-03-02) 2 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.

References

[change | change source]
  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. Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. 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 3.26 "Prime Ministers". Parliament.lk. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. 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 26 September 2018 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 26 October 2012 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" Archived 6 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. 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. ↑ Cite error: The named reference dingiri was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  14. ↑ "Profile: Ranil Wickramasinghe" Archived 2 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News. 2005-11-22. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Cite error: The named reference ratnasiri was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
  17. ↑ "Sri Lanka" Archived 22 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine . The History Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  18. ↑ "President's Profile" Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine . The President's Fund of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
  19. ↑ "SC grants leave to proceed with Mahinda's appeal". Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  20. ↑ "Sri Lanka parliament passes no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa". 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
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