President of Sri Lanka

For a list of officeholders, see List of presidents of Sri Lanka.

Head of state and government of Sri Lanka

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President of Sri Lanka

ශ්‍රී ලංකා ජනාධිපති
இலங்கை ஜனாதிபதி

Emblem of Sri Lanka

Flag of Sri Lanka

Incumbent
Anura Kumara Dissanayake

since 23 September 2024

Style|

*     * Mr. President
(Informal)
* His Excellency
(Formal)

Type|

* Head of state
* Head of government
* Commander-in-chief

Member of| Cabinet
National Security Council
Residence| President's House
Nominator| Citizens of Sri Lanka
Appointer| Direct election
See eligibility
Term length| Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument| Constitution of Sri Lanka
Precursor| Monarch of Ceylon
Inaugural holder| William Gopallawa
under the 1972 Constitution
Formation| 22 May 1972; 52 years ago (1972-05-22)
First holder| William Gopallawa
Succession| Sri Lankan presidential line of succession
Deputy| Prime Minister
Website| president.gov.lk
Presidential Secretariat
This article is part of a series on the

Politics of
Sri Lanka

Constitution

* Amendments
* Law
* Human rights
* Taxation

* * *

* Previous Constitutions:
* 1931
* 1947
* 1972

Executive

* President of Sri Lanka (10th)

* Anura Kumara Dissanayake

* * *

* Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (16th)

* Harini Amarasuriya

* * *

* Cabinet
* Cabinet Ministers
* Ministers
* Ministries

Legislature

Parliament of Sri Lanka (16th)

* * *

* Speaker

* Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena

* * *

* Deputy Speaker

* Ajith Rajapaksa

* * *

* Deputy Chairman of Committees

* Angajan Ramanathan

* * *

* Leader of the House

* Susil Premajayantha

* * *

* Leader of the Opposition

* Sajith Premadasa

* * *

* Chief Government Whip

* Prasanna Ranatunga

* * *

* Chief Opposition Whip

* Lakshman Kiriella

* * *

* Secretary General

* Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera

* * *

* Constitutional Council
* COPE

Judiciary

Supreme Court of Sri Lanka

* Chief Justice

* Murdu Nirupa Fernando (Acting)

* * *

* Puisne Justices

* P. Padman Surasena
* S. Thurairaja
* Gamini Amarasekera
* Yasantha Kodagoda
* A. H. M. D.Nawaz
* Kumuduni Wickremasinghe
* A. L. Shiran Gooneratne
* Janak De Silva
* Achala Wengappuli
* Mahinda Samayawardhena
* Arjuna Obeyesekere
* K. Priyantha Fernando

* * *

* Court of Appeal
* High Court
* District Court
* Magistrate's Court
* Primary Court
* Labour Tribunal
* Judicial Service Commission
* Bar Association
* Law enforcement

Ministry of Justice

* Cabinet Minister

* Harini Amarasuriya

* * *

* Attorney General

* Parinda Ranasinghe

* * *

* Solicitor General

* Ayesha Jinasena

Elections

Election Commission

* Chairman

* R. M. A. L. Rathnayake

* * *

* Members

* M. A. P. C. Perera
* Ameer Faaiz
* Anusuya Shanmuganathan
* Lakshman Dissanayake

Elections

* Presidential

* 2015
* 2019
* 2024

* * *

* Parliamentary

* 2015
* 2020
* 2024

* * *

* Provincial council

* 2013
* 2014 (Mar)
* 2014 (Sep)

* * *

* Local government

* 2018
* 2019
* 2024

Referendum

* 1982

* * *

* Electoral districts
* Polling divisions
* Political parties

Administrative divisions

Provinces

* Central
* Eastern
* North Central
* Northern
* North Western
* Sabaragamuwa
* Southern
* Uva
* Western

Districts

* Ampara
* Anuradhapura
* Badulla
* Batticaloa
* Colombo
* Galle
* Gampaha
* Hambantota
* Jaffna
* Kalutara
* Kandy
* Kegalle
* Kilinochchi
* Kurunegala
* Mannar
* Matale
* Matara
* Monaragala
* Mullaitivu
* Nuwara Eliya
* Polonnaruwa
* Puttalam
* Ratnapura
* Trincomalee
* Vavuniya

* * *

* District Secretariats
* Divisional Secretariats
* Grama Niladhari divisions
* Cities
* Towns
* Capital city

Devolution

* 13th Amendment
* Indo-Sri Lanka Accord

* * *

* Provincial Councils
* Provincial Governors
* Provincial Chief Ministers
* Provincial Councillors

* * *

* Local government
* Municipal Councils
* Urban Councils
* Pradeshiya Sabhas

Ministry of Provincial Councils
and Local Government

* Cabinet Minister

* Harini Amarasuriya

* * *

* Secretary to the Ministry

* S. Alokabandara

Central Bank

* Governor

* Nandalal Weerasinghe

* * *

* Senior Deputy Governor

* K. M. A. N. Daulagala

* * *

* Currency
* Banknotes
* Economy

Ministry of Finance

* Cabinet Minister

* Anura Kumara Dissanayake

* * *

* Secretary to the Ministry

* K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana

Foreign relations

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

* Cabinet Minister

* Vijitha Herath

* * *

* Secretary to the Ministry

* Aruni Wijewardane

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Sri Lanka
* Heads of missions of Sri Lanka

* * *

* Passports
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

Related topics

* Sri Lanka
* History
* Flag
* Emblem
* Anthem
* Military

* Sri Lanka portal
* Politics portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The president of Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා ජනාධිපති Śrī Lankā Janādhipathi; Tamil: இலங்கை ஜனாதிபதி Ilankai janātipati) 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.[1] The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, in addition to their relation with the Prime minister and Government of Sri Lanka, have over time differed with the various constitutional documents since the creation of the office. The president appoints the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka who can command the confidence of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.[2]

Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the 10th and current president, having assumed office on 23 September 2024, after being declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election.[3][4][5]

## History

[edit]

Under the Soulbury Constitution which consisted of the Ceylon Independence Act of 1947 and The Ceylon (Constitution and Independence) Orders in Council 1947, Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was known then) became a constitutional monarchy with a Westminster parliamentary form of government. The monarch of Ceylon served as the head of state, represented by the governor-general with the prime minister serving as the head of government. The governor-general replaced the position of the Governor of British Ceylon, who had previously exercised executive control over the entire island since 1815.[6]

In 1972, the new Republican Constitution declared Sri Lanka a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state. The president was a largely ceremonial figure; real power remained vested in the prime minister.[7]

In 1978, the second amendment to the Constitution replaced the Westminster system with a more semi-presidential system. The presidency became an executive post based closely on the French model, and was now both head of state and head of government, with a longer term and independent from Parliament. The president was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, head of the cabinet of ministers, and has the power to dissolve and call a parliament. The prime minister would serve as both an assistant and the deputy to the president and also the president's successor.[8]

The 17th Constitutional Amendment introduced in 2001 reduced certain powers of the president, in particular in regard to the appointment of the upper judiciary and independent commissions such as the election commission or the bribery and corruption commission.[9]

In 2010, the highly controversial 18th Amendment to the constitution was introduced in order to remove the two-term limit for the presidency. The 18th amendment allowed the incumbent president to serve multiple terms as well as increase their power by replacing the broader constitutional council with a limited parliamentary council. This amendment was introduced by president Mahinda Rajapaksa and he later went on to run for a third term of presidency in 2015, wherein he was defeated by Maithripala Sirisena.[10]

The 19th Constitutional Amendment undid much of the changes done by the 18th Amendment.[11] The two-term limit was restored by president Maithripala Sirisena. The amendment required the president to consult the prime minister on ministerial appointments. It curtailed any president's immunity by making them liable to fundamental rights litigation on any official act.[12]

In 2022, the country caved into a severe economic crisis, and as result, mass anti-government protests erupted across Sri Lanka. The protesters demanded for then-incumbent president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government step down. The protestors also demanded amendments to the Constitution of Sri Lanka and to reduce the powers of the President. After Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation, prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected president by the parliament.

In October 2022, the 21st Constitutional Amendment was introduced as plan to empower the parliament over the executive president and curbs some of the powers of the president. Under the 21st Amendment, the President, Cabinet of Ministers and National Council are all held accountable to the parliament.[citation needed] Fifteen Committees and Oversight Committees are also accountable to parliament. One of the key provisions in 21st Amendment is disqualifying dual-citizens from contesting in elections in Sri Lanka.[13]

## Selection process

[edit]

### Eligibility

[edit]

The article 31 Constitution of Sri Lanka sets the following qualifications for holding the presidency:

* "The person is a citizen having been nominated as a candidate for such office by a recognized political party or elected member of the legislature."
* "No person who has been twice elected to the office of President by the People, shall be qualified thereafter to be elected to such office by the People."
* The person can only hold the citizenship of Sri Lanka.[14]

### Election

[edit]

The president is elected to office in a presidential election held nationwide for a five-year term. An elected president can serve for a maximum of two terms, with each term taking effect from the date of taking a public oath of office for the elected term.[15]

The President of Sri Lanka is elected through a system of limited ranked voting. Voters can express up to three ranked preferences for the presidency. If no candidate receives more than 50% of all valid votes in the first count, all candidates except the two who received the highest number of votes are eliminated. The second and third preference votes of the eliminated candidates are then redistributed to the remaining two candidates until one of them secures an outright majority.[16]

Article 31 (3A)(a)(i) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, states that, the "President may, at any time after the expiration of four years from the commencement of his first term of office, by Proclamation, declare his intention of appealing to the People for a mandate to hold office, by election, for a second term.” But "A person succeeding to the office of the President under the provisions of article 40 of the constitution shall not be entitled to exercise the right conferred above."[14]

### Succession or vacancy

[edit]

Main article: Sri Lankan presidential line of succession

Succession to or vacancies in the office of president may arise under several possible circumstances: death or incapacity, resignation, or removal from office. In the case when the president is unable to perform their duties, their powers are temporarily transferred to the prime minister until confirmed by Parliament.[citation needed]

According to the Article 40 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, "If the office of President shall become vacant prior to the expiration of his term of office, Parliament shall elect as President one of its Members who is qualified to be elected to the office of President. Any person so succeeding to the office of President shall hold office only for the unexpired period of the term of office of the President vacating office. Until the election of a successor, the powers and functions of the office of the President will discharged by the Prime Minister in his capacity as Acting president."[citation needed]

Throughout the history, Office of the President has fallen vacant two times; first in 1993, after the Assassination of then President Premadasa and again in 2022, after the resignation of President Rajapaksa. In both times, they were succeeded by then Prime Ministers; D. B. Wijetunga in 1993 and Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2022.[17]

## Term length

[edit]

At the time of the Creation of office in 1972, the term of the office of the President was a term of Six years. After the Introduction of the Executive Presidency in 1978, The President is elected by Popular vote and shall hold the office for 6 years and is eligible to serve two terms.[18]

According to the Article 31 (3A) of the Constitution, The Term of office starts from the Date of the Inauguration of the President and he can call an early Presidential election after expiration of 4 years of his first term.[19] If the elected President did not call can early Presidential election, the next Presidential election shall take place not more than two months and not less than one month before the expiration of the term of the incumbent President.

19th Amendment to the Constitution reduced the term of office to Five years and the Incumbent President can call an early Presidential election after the expiration of four years of his first term.

Furthermore, Article 31 (3A) of the Constitution states that an any person succeeding to the office of President under the provisions of Article 40 shall not be entitled to exercise the right to call an early Presidential election and will hold the office till expiration of the term of his Predecessor.

## Powers and duties

[edit]

### Duties

[edit]

Duties of the president as described in the constitution are to:

* Ensure that the Constitution is respected and upheld;
* Promote national reconciliation and integration;
* Ensure and facilitate the proper functioning of the Constitutional Council and other institutions;
* On the advice of the Election Commission, ensure the creation of proper conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections and referendums.[citation needed]

### Constitutional powers

[edit]

Presidents have little constraints on their power. The president shall be responsible to Parliament and can be impeached and removed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The president may declare war and peace. They can place the country or any part under a state of emergency, under which they can override any law passed and promulgate any regulation without needing legislative approval. However, to prolong the state of emergency for more than 6 months, parliamentary approval is needed. In case of external invasion, a state of national defense can be proclaimed, which allows the government extraordinary powers. Martial law can be declared in provinces under extraordinary conditions. Further, the President can dismiss both the national and state governments from power in 3 situations: corruption, treason, and inability to govern.[20]

### Parliamentary powers

[edit]

The president has the right to attend Parliament once in every three months, but is not entitled to vote. They have the right to address or send messages to Parliament and to summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament.[21]

### Administrative powers

[edit]

The president makes numerous appointments which include the prime minister, cabinet and non-cabinet ministers, provincial governors, public officers, ambassadors and commissioned officers of the armed forces. The president may also appoint secretaries, officers, and staff.[22]

### Judicial powers

[edit]

The president would have the power to appoint and remove, the chief justice, justices of the Supreme Court, justices of the Court of Appeal and judges of the High Court. The president may grant a pardon. The president has immunity from both civil and criminal proceedings. The president has the power to commission public inquires by appointing a Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate any issue.[citation needed]

### Diplomatic powers

[edit]

President of Sri Lanka is the nation's Chief Diplomat. Through this role, they are responsible for carrying out negotiations with foreign leaders and their governments and appoint diplomatic agents.[23]

### Ceremonial duties

[edit]

The president has an important ceremonial role in terms of state ceremonies, functions, and awarding state awards. Most notable would be the traditional throne speech delivered by the president to the parliament outlining the official policy statement of the new government to the parliament.[24] The president would lead the independence day celebrations as well as other national ceremonies such as remembrance day, Wap Magul (ceremonial ploughing) and receive the Perahera Sandeshaya. National honours would be awarded by the president on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka. The president would receive letter of credence from foreign ambassadors.[citation needed]

### Appointments

[edit]

The president may appoint provincial governors to head the provincial council and serve as their representative in the province. The president may also appoint any number of advisers as presidential advisers and coordinate secretaries to assist them.

The president has the power to appoint senior attorneys-at-law to the position of President's Counsel. The president may appoint officers from the armed forces to serve as their aide-de-camp as well as extra-aide-de-camp. Additionally, the president may appoint medical officers of the armed forces as Honorary Physician to the President and Honorary Surgeon to the President.[25]

## Privileges

[edit]

### Salary

[edit]

The president receives a monthly salary (as of 2016) of LKR 100,000 (≈ $1,000) paid from the consolidated fund.[26] It was increased from LKR 25,000 (≈ $500) to LKR 100,000 in 2006.

### Tax benefits

[edit]

By tradition, the president and past presidents are not subjected to income tax. This practice dates back to the pre-republic era when the crown was not subject to tax. In 2018, this practice was changed with the Inland Revenue Bill which removed the tax exemption given to the President.[27]

### Legal immunity

[edit]

The president has immunity from both civil or criminal proceedings, during the tenure of office and acts carried out during this period.[28]

### Residence

[edit]

President's Pavilion in Kandy

The official residence of the president in Colombo is the President's House (formerly the Queen's House as the residence of the governor-general). The government pays for meals and staff. Other presidential residences include:

* the President's Pavilion, is the president's second official residence in Kandy;
* the Queen's Cottage is the official presidential vacationing residence in the holiday-town of Nuwara Eliya.

In recent years from time to time Prime Minister's House, commonly referred to as Temple Trees, which has been the traditional residence of the prime minister since 1948, has been used by some presidents such as Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa. Other presidents, such as Jayewardene and Sirisena, have refused to use the President's House, with the former preferring to stay at his personal residence in Braemar, and the latter at his former ministerial residence at Wijayarama Mawatha.

### Travel

[edit]

For ground travel, the president uses the presidential state car, which is an armored black Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S600) Pullman Guard. For Domestic air travel, helicopters from the No. 4 (VVIP/VIP) Helicopter Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force are used. For foreign travel, Special or Regular Flights of the Sri Lankan Airlines are used. During ceremonial occasions, ships and boats of the Sri Lanka Navy have been commissioned as the presidential yacht.

### Security

[edit]

President's Security Division (PSD) is the main unit charged with the close protection of the President of Sri Lanka. During President Mahinda Rajapakse's time in office the specialized Army unit the 'President's Guard' was formed for Presidential Security. Prior to the formation of the President's Guard, army personnel served as a squadron under the President's Security Division since 1996 and focused on key tasks including the perimeter security of the presidential residence, Temple Trees. 5th Regiment Sri Lanka Armored Corps was the first army unit chosen to be in the dedicated security of the president of Sri Lanka during the presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. However, in April 2015, President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved the President's Guard.[29] Currently the president's security is provided by the elite Special Task Force (STF) of the Sri Lanka Police.

### Presidential flag (1972−2022)

[edit]

After the oath of office has been taken by the elected president, a presidential flag was adopted by the president as the insignia of their office. Each president had a unique standard, incorporating traditional symbols associated with the president or their home region. This was the case until Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe abolished the presidential flag.

### Presidential Dispatch Bag

[edit]

The 'Attaché Case', Presidential Dispatch Bag carries important and secret documents wherever president is traveling. This was specifically designed by Sri Lanka Army. President will hand over the Dispatch Bag from one President to the next in line. [30]

## Presidential staff

[edit]

### Presidential Secretariat

[edit]

The Presidential Secretariat, formerly Sri Lanka's Parliament building

Main article: Presidential Secretariat (Sri Lanka)

The Presidential Secretariat is the government ministry that functions as the office and staff of the president, supporting the administrative functions of the presidency and other ministerial portfolios that are held by the president. Initially located at President's House, the staff of the office of the president grew with the establishment of the executive presidency and moved into the former Parliament building in Colombo in the 1980s which now hosts the Presidential Secretariat. The Presidential Secretariat is headed by the secretary to the president (also known as the president's secretary), who is the most senior civil servant in the country.

### Presidential advisers

[edit]

The president has the ability to appoint any number of advisers as presidential advisers. The highest-ranking of which is known as senior advisers. During his tenure, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had appointed 38 advisers.[31]

### Chief of staff

[edit]

The chief of staff is the highest-ranking officer that handles presidential staff.Currently the position is vacant after Dissanayake took office in 2024.

### Coordinating secretaries

[edit]

The president may appoint any number of coordinating secretaries to assist him/her.

## The President's Fund

[edit]

The president is the chair of the Board of Governors of the President's Fund which was established under the President's Fund Act No. 7 of 1978 to provide funds for relief of poverty, access to special healthcare, advancement of education or knowledge, advancement of the religion and culture, providing awards to persons who have served the nation and for any other purposes beneficial or of interest to the public. It is administered by the Presidential Secretariat.[32]

## Post-presidency

[edit]

### Pention

[edit]

Under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, a former president will be granted a pension equal to the last pay drawn while in office drawn from the Consolidated Fund. This pension would be in addition to any other pension to which any prior service will entitle the individual. A widow of a former president would receive a monthly pension which the former president was entitled to drawn from the Consolidated Fund.[33]

### Entitledments

[edit]

As per the Presidents’ Entitlements Act No. 4 of 1986, a former president or the widow of a former president is entitled to an official residence. A former president is entitled to a monthly secretarial allowance equal to the current salary of the Private Secretary to the President. A window of a former president is entitled to a monthly secretarial allowance, equal to the current salary of the Private Secretary to a cabinet minister. A former president and the widow of a former president are entitled to official transport and all such other facilities provided to a cabinet minister.[34][35]

### Order of precedence

[edit]

A former President or the widow of a former president is ranked at the level of a cabinet minister in the order of precedence.

### Engagement in politics

[edit]

Apart from a bar of standing for election for a third term as President, a former President has no restriction from holding any other office. While most Presidents retired from public life after their tenure, Mahinda Rajapaksa continued to engage in active politics after his term in office, serving as a Member of Parliament for Kurunegala from 2015 to 2024, Leader of the Opposition from 2018 to 2019, and Prime Minister from 2019 to 2022; while Sirisena served as Member of Parliament for Polonnaruwa from 2020 to 2024.

## See also

[edit]

* List of presidents of Sri Lanka
* Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
* Presidential Secretariat
* President's Security Division
* President's Guard
* Official state car of the president of Sri Lanka
* Air transports of heads of government of Sri Lanka

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The President – Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka". Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
2. ^ "Sri Lanka (05/07)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
3. ^ "Anura Kumara to be sworn in as President today". www.adaderana.lk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
4. ^ "Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected President of Sri Lanka". www.adaderana.lk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
5. ^ AFP (22 September 2024). "Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected Sri Lanka President". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
6. ^ "CEYLON (CONSTITUTION) ORDER IN COUNCIL". LawNet. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
7. ^ "Sri Lanka's fight for Independence". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
8. ^ "SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION". LawNet. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
9. ^ "SEVENTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION". LawNet. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
10. ^ "18th Amendment: Making a Mockery of Democracy in Sri Lanka | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses". www.idsa.in. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
11. ^ "Explained: Sri Lanka's coming constitutional changes and why its Tamil polity is worried". The Indian Express. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
12. ^ "Strides in the right direction". The Economist. 30 April 2015. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
13. ^ "Sri Lanka : Twenty-first amendment to the constitution takes effect from today". www.colombopage.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
14. ^ a b "Sri Lanka 1978 (rev. 2015) Constitution - Constitute". www.constituteproject.org. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
15. ^ Shamim, Sarah. "Sri Lanka election 2024: Who could be the next president, what's at stake?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
16. ^ "Presidential Elections Act, No.15 of 1981" (PDF). Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
17. ^ "Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe sworn in as acting president - govt official". Reuters. 15 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023.
18. ^ "Sri Lanka's 6-year Presidential term: problem in drafting 19th amendment explained". EconomyNext. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
19. ^ DeVotta, Neil (2021). "Sri Lanka: The Return to Ethnocracy". Journal of Democracy. 32 (1): 96–110. doi:10.1353/jod.2021.0003. ISSN 1086-3214.
20. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20240626/281668260161582?srsltid=AfmBOopJnf4pjq8STjW49K6r7b52XJVXL7tylK2afkXHcztfYTCDaGLf. Retrieved 30 September 2024 - via PressReader. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
21. ^ "Sri Lanka 1978 (rev. 2010) Constitution - Constitute". www.constituteproject.org. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
22. ^ "Sri Lanka (05/07)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
23. ^ "Sri Lanka's Presidential Elections - 2024 Who will Champion the Race?". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
24. ^ "Policy Statement delivered by President Maithripala Sirisena addressing the 8th Parliament of Sri Lanka on September 1, 2015". Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
25. ^ "Sri Lanka Army Officers Service Regulations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
26. ^ "Of Ministers' Salaries And Parliamentary Perks". 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
27. ^ "NEW BILL TO TAX LANKA'S PRESIDENT". Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
28. ^ "With No Immunity, Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa Faces Legal Troubles". Voice of America. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
29. ^ "Army personnel removed from Presidential Guard". Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
30. ^ "Presidential Dispatch Bag designed by Army handed over to President". 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
31. ^ "Public Funds Wasted On Presidential Advisers". Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
32. ^ "The President's Fund". Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
33. ^ "The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka. parliament.lk. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
34. ^ "Presidents Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986". lawnet.gov.lk. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
35. ^ "CBK to get same pension as Rajapaksa". Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* The official website of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
* The official website of the Presidential Secretariat of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
* The official website of the Parliament of Sri Lanka - list of Heads of State

* v
* t
* e

Presidents of Sri Lanka

1. William Gopallawa
2. J. R. Jayewardene
3. Ranasinghe Premadasa
4. Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
5. Chandrika Kumaratunga
6. Mahinda Rajapaksa
7. Maithripala Sirisena
8. Gotabaya Rajapaksa
9. Ranil Wickremesinghe
10. Anura Kumara Dissanayake

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* Prehistory
* Pre-Anuradhapura period
* Anuradhapura period
* Polonnaruwa period
* Transitional period
* Kandyan period
* British Ceylon period
* Sri Lanka (1948–present)

|

Epochs|

* Mahāvaṃsa
* Vijaya
* Tambapanni
* Anuradhapura
* Chola conquest of Anuradhapura
* Polonnaruwa
* Jaffna
* Dambadeniya
* Gampola
* Kotte
* Crisis of the Sixteenth Century
* Sitawaka
* Kandy
* Portuguese Ceylon
* Dutch Ceylon
* British Ceylon
* Kandyan Wars
* Uva Rebellion
* Matale rebellion
* Independence movement
* Dominion of Ceylon (monarchy)
* Civil war

Topics|

* Chronicles
* Monarchs
* Demographic
* Economic
* Education
* Military
* Sexual Minorities

Government|

| Law|

* Constitution
* Constitutional Council

|

Executive|

* President
* Executive Office
* Cabinet / Ministries
* Administrative Service
* National Security Council
* Law enforcement

Judiciary|

* Supreme Court
* Court of appeal
* High Courts
* District courts
* Magistrate's Courts
* Primary Courts
* Labour Tribunal

Legislature|

* Parliament
* Prime Minister
* Office
* Speaker
* Deputy speaker and chairman of committees
* Deputy Chairman of Committees
* Leader of the House
* Leader of the Opposition
* Chief Government Whip
* Chief Opposition Whip
* Secretaries-General
* 15th Parliament
* Members

National security|

* Armed Forces
* Air Force
* Army
* Navy
* Coast Guard
* Intelligence
* State Intelligence Service
* Directorate of Military Intelligence
* Criminal Investigation Department
* Sri Lanka Police Service

Devolution|

* Provincial governments
* Local governments
* Municipal councils
* Urban councils
* Pradeshiya Sabha
* Wards

Politics|

* Capital city
* Electoral districts
* Elections
* Foreign relations
* Parties
* Sri Lanka Freedom Party
* United National Party
* Scandals

Geography|

* Administrative divisions
* Provinces
* Districts
* Divisional Secretariats
* Grama Niladhari divisions
* Cities
* Towns

* Ecoregions
* Environment
* Extreme points
* Islands
* Mountains
* Pidurutalagala
* Central Highlands
* Hanthana Mountain Range
* Knuckles Mountain Range
* National parks
* Protected areas
* Rivers
* Mahaweli
* Malvathu
* Kelani
* Kalu
* Gin
* Waterfalls
* Wildlife

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Banking
* Central Bank
* Communications
* Companies
* Energy
* Information technology
* Public debt
* Rupee
* Science and technology
* Stock Exchange
* Taxation
* Trade
* Transport
* Unemployment
* Welfare

* Industries
* Apparel
* Beer
* Cinnamon
* Cocoa
* Coconut
* Coffee
* Gems
* Graphite
* Rice
* Rubber
* Sugar
* Tea
* Tourism

Society|

| Topics|

* Birth
* Demographics
* Women
* Sexual Minorities
* Education
* Health
* Languages
* Sinhala
* Tamil
* Media
* Mass media
* Public holidays
* Religion
* Social class
* World Heritage Sites

|

Culture|

* Architecture
* Art
* Cinema
* Cuisine
* Dance
* Fashion
* Flag
* Folklore
* Literature
* Music
* National symbols
* Philosophy
* Radio
* Sport
* Traditional games
* Angampora
* Cheena di
* Television
* Theatre

Issues|

* Capital punishment
* Crime
* Disability
* Gender inequality
* Human rights
* Immigration
* International rankings
* LGBT history
* LGBT rights
* Poverty
* Terrorism

* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Heads of state and government of Asia

Heads
of state|

| UN members
and observers|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan1
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* East Timor
* Egypt2
* Georgia1
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan1
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* North Korea
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia1
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkey1
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

|

limited recognized states|

* Abkhazia1
* Northern Cyprus1
* South Ossetia1
* Taiwan

Heads of
government|

| UN members
and observers|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan1
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* East Timor
* Egypt2
* Georgia1
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan1
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* North Korea
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia1
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkey1
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

|

limited recognized states|

* Abkhazia1
* Northern Cyprus1
* South Ossetia1
* Taiwan

Supreme leaders|

* Afghanistan
* China
* Iran
* North Korea

1 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the Europe–Asia border. 2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the Africa–Asia border.

* v
* t
* e

Politics of Sri Lanka

Law|

* Kandyan Constitution
* Donoughmore Constitution (1931)
* Soulbury Constitution (1947)
* Republican Constitution (1972)
* 1997 Draft Constitution (1997)
* 2000 Draft Constitution (2000)
* Constitution
* Proposed Constitution
* Acts of the Parliament
* Kandyan law
* Thesavalamai
* Muslim law
* Roman-Dutch law
* English law

Flag of Sri Lanka

Political history|

* Kandyan independence movement (1470s)
* Crisis of the Sixteenth Century (1505–1594)
* Wijayaba Kollaya (1521)
* Sinhalese–Portuguese War (1527–1658)
* Portuguese conquest of Jaffna (1560–1619)
* Fall of Kotte (1597)
* British invasion of Ceylon (1795)
* Kandyan Wars (1796–1818)
* American Ceylon Mission (1813)
* Kandyan Convention (1815)
* Sri Lankan independence movement (1817–1948)
* Great Rebellion of 1817–18 (1817–1818)
* Colebrooke-Cameron Commission (1829)
* Matale rebellion (1848)
* Temperance movement (1895)
* 1915 Ceylonese riots (1915)
* Ceylon National Congress (1919)
* Jaffna Youth Congress (1924)
* Donoughmore Commission (1927)
* Suriya-Mal Movement (1933–1939)
* Bracegirdle Incident (1937)
* Cocos Islands mutiny (1942)
* Soulbury Commission (1944)
* Independence Day (1948)
* Ceylon Citizenship Act (1948)
* State-sponsored colonisation schemes (1950s–2000s)
* 1953 Ceylonese Hartal (1953)
* Nehru-Kotelawala Pact (1954)
* Sinhala Only Act (1956)
* 1956 anti-Tamil pogrom (1956)
* Bandaranaike–Chelvanayakam Pact (1957)
* 1958 anti-Tamil pogrom (1958)
* Coup d'état attempt (1962)
* Sirima–Shastri Pact (1964)
* Alleged coup d'état attempt (1966)
* Policy of standardisation (1971)
* 1971 JVP insurrection (1971)
* Republic Day (1972)
* Sirima–Gandhi Pact (1974)
* Vaddukoddai Resolution (1976)
* 1977 Sri Lankan riots (1977)
* Burning of Jaffna Public Library (1981)
* Black July (1983)
* Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009)
* Indo-Sri Lanka Accord (1987)
* 1987 anti-Sinhalese riots (1987)
* 1987–1989 JVP insurrection (1987–1989)
* Mawanella riots (2001)
* 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka (2014)
* Alleged coup d'état attempt (2015)
* 2018 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka (2018)
* 2018 Sri Lankan constitutional crisis (2018)
* 2019 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka (2019)
* 2022 Sri Lankan protests (2022)
* 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis (2022)

Political
movements|

| Ideologies|

* Capitalism
* Communism
* Conservatism
* Environmentalism
* Federalism
* Liberalism
* Separatism
* Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism
* Socialism
* Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism
* Tamil Eelam
* Non-Aligned Movement
* Unitary state

|

Political parties|

* Current parties
* United National Party
* Sri Lanka Freedom Party
* Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
* Samagi Jana Balawegaya
* Tamil National Alliance
* Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
* Defunct political parties
* Leftist parties in Sri Lanka

Other groups|

* Tamil militant groups
* Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
* Others

Government|

| Executive|

* Presidency
* President
* Cabinet / Ministries
* Administrative Service
* National Security Council
* Law enforcement

|

Judiciary|

* Supreme Court
* Chief Justice
* Court of appeal
* High Courts
* District courts
* Magistrate's Courts
* Primary Courts
* Labour Tribunal

Legislative|

* Parliament
* Speaker
* Prime Minister
* Office
* Leader of the House
* Leader of the Opposition
* Chief Government Whip
* Chief Opposition Whip
* Secretaries-General
* 16th Parliament
* Members

Political culture|

| Issues|

* 6th Amendment
* 13th Amendment
* 19th Amendment
* Assassinations
* Capital punishment
* Caste system
* Corruption
* Crime
* Elections
* Freedom of the press
* Censorship
* Media bias
* Online Safety Bill
* Enforced disappearances
* Gender inequality
* Human rights
* Indentured labourers
* LGBT rights
* Poverty
* Scandals
* Sexual minorities
* Terrorism

|

Terminology|

* White van

By province|

* Central Province
* Eastern Province
* North Central Province
* Northern Province
* North Western Province
* Sabaragamuwa
* Southern Province
* Uva
* Western Province

Other|

* Electoral districts
* Foreign relations
* Provincial governments
* Local governments
* Political families

Category

* v
* t
* e

Sri Lankan national security organisations

National Security Council|

* Office of the President of Sri Lanka
* Minister of Defence
* Office of the Chief of the Defence Staff
* Ministry of Law and Order
* Inspector General of Police

Cabinet-level Ministry|

* Ministry of Defence
* Ministry of Law and Order

Military branches|

* Army
* Navy
* Air Force

Law enforcement|

* Sri Lanka Police
* Criminal Investigation Department
* Financial Crimes Investigation Division
* Special Task Force
* Sri Lanka Customs
* Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police

Paramilitary|

* Civil Security Force
* Sri Lanka Coast Guard

Intelligence|

* Directorate of Military Intelligence
* State Intelligence Service

Research and development|

* Centre for Defence Research and Development

Special forces units|

Police
Special Task Force
Army
Special Forces Regiment
Commando Regiment
Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
Air Force
Air Force Regiment Special Force
Special Airborne Force
Navy
Special Boat Squadron
Marine Corps

Protective security|

* President's Security Division
* Prime Minister's Security Division
* Sri Lanka Police Mounted Division

* v
* t
* e

Heads of state and government of Asia

Heads
of state|

| UN members
and observers|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan1
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* East Timor
* Egypt2
* Georgia1
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan1
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* North Korea
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia1
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkey1
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

|

limited recognized states|

* Abkhazia1
* Northern Cyprus1
* South Ossetia1
* Taiwan

Heads of
government|

| UN members
and observers|

* Afghanistan
* Armenia
* Azerbaijan1
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* Brunei
* Cambodia
* China
* Cyprus
* East Timor
* Egypt2
* Georgia1
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Israel
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan1
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Lebanon
* Malaysia
* Maldives
* Mongolia
* Myanmar
* Nepal
* North Korea
* Oman
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Philippines
* Qatar
* Russia1
* Saudi Arabia
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Thailand
* Turkey1
* Turkmenistan
* United Arab Emirates
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam
* Yemen

|

limited recognized states|

* Abkhazia1
* Northern Cyprus1
* South Ossetia1
* Taiwan

Supreme leaders|

* Afghanistan
* China
* Iran
* North Korea

1 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the Europe–Asia border. 2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the definition of the Africa–Asia border.
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