List of Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka - wikipedia List of Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Sri Lanka Constitution Previous constitutions : 1931 1947 Law of Sri Lanka Human rights Law enforcement Government Executive President ( List ) : Maithripala Sirisena Prime Minister ( List ) : Ranil Wickremesinghe Cabinet : 15th cabinet Ministries Legislature Parliament Speaker Deputy Speaker Leader of the House Leader of the Opposition Judiciary Constitutional Council Supreme Court Chief Justice : Priyasath Dep Court of Appeal High Courts District Courts Magistrate 's Courts Primary Courts Labour Tribunal Elections Elections Political parties Last election Next election Administrative geography Provinces Districts Municipalities Wards Grama Niladhari divisions Foreign policy Foreign relations Related issues Civil War Sri Lanka Portal Other countries Atlas There have been fourteen Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka since the creation of the position in 1947, prior to the formation of the Dominion of Ceylon. The Prime Minister of Ceylon was the head of the government until 1978. In 1972, the country was named 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 J.R. Jayewardene 's government adapted two separate ministries, forming the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1978, Prime Minister J.R. Jayewardene introduced new constitutional changes. 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 head of government, and the Prime Minister became a nominal position. 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 convens to elect a successor or new elections can be held to elect a new president. This was the case in 1993, when President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated and Prime Minister Dingiri Banda Wijetunge took office as President. On 28 April 2015, the Parliament approved the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka which gives the power of the Government to the Prime Minister, while the President remains the head of state, head of the cabinet, and Commander - in - chief. Of the fourteen prime ministers who have held office since the introduction of the position in 1947, three have held office thrice, and one has held office twice. Five prime ministers have gone on to become president of the country. The current Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is Ranil Wickremesinghe, since 9 January 2015. Ranil Wickramasinghe has been sworn in as prime minister the most times in the country 's history, on four separate occasions ( May 1993, December 2001, January 2015 and August 2015 ), whilst Dudley Shelton Senanayaka and Sirimavo Bandaranayake were appointed three times. Contents 1 List of Prime Ministers 2 Living former Prime Ministers 3 Timeline 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References List of Prime Ministers Parties United National Party Sri Lanka Freedom Party 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 Governor - General / President ( 1. Term of Office ) ( 2. Political Party ) 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 Henry Monck - Mason Moore 4 February 1948 -- 29 June 1949, as Governor - General representing George VI Independent 1947 Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury 6 July 1949 -- 17 July 1954, as Governor - General representing George VI & Elizabeth II Conservative Party ( UK ) The first Prime Minister of Ceylon. The country gained independence from United Kingdom during his term of office. 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 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. Sir John Kotelawala ජෝන් කොතලාවල ஜோன் கொத்தலாவல 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 -- Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke 17 July 1954 -- 2 March 1962, as Governor - General representing Elizabeth II Independent Sri Lanka joined the United Nations under the leadership of Kotelawala. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike සොලමන් බන්ඩාරනායක சாலமன் பண்டாரநாயக்கே ( 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 1956 Bandaranaike changed the official language of the country from English to Sinhalese. He was assassinated before his term of office ended. 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 -- 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. ( 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 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 July 1960 William Gopallawa 2 March 1962 -- 4 February 1978, as Governor - General representing Elizabeth II until 22 May 1972 Independent Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world 's first female prime minister. 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 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. ( 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 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. 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. 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 1977 Introduced the Executive Presidency in 1978, and assumed the position of President of Sri Lanka. 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 J.R. Jayewardene 4 February 1978 -- 2 January 1989 United National Party -- Was the first Prime Minister to be appointed after the constitutional changes of 1978, with powers of the position reduced significantly. 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 Ranasinghe Premadasa ) 2 January 1989 -- 1 May 1993 United National Party 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 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga 1 May 1993 -- 12 November 1994 United National Party -- Appointed as the Prime Minister 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 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. ( 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 Chandrika Kumaratunga 12 November 1994 -- 19 November 2005 Sri Lanka Freedom Party -- Sirimavo Bandaranaike was appointed as the Prime Minister when Chandrika Kumaratunga was appointed as the President of Sri Lanka. She resigned in 2000. 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 2000 Wickremanayake assumed the office of the Prime Minister following the resignation of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. ( 10 ) Ranil Wickremesinghe රනිල් වික්‍රමසිංහ ரணில் விக்ரமசிங்க ( 1949 -- ) Colombo 9 December 2001 6 April United National Party Kumaratunga 16th 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. 13 Mahinda Rajapaksa මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ மகிந்த ராசபக்ச ( 1945 -- ) Hambantota 6 April 19 November 2005 Ministry of Highways Sri Lanka Freedom Party ( United People 's Freedom Alliance ) Kumaratunga 17th 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. ( 12 ) Ratnasiri Wickremanayake රත්නසිරි වික්‍රමනායක ரத்னசிறி விக்கிரமநாயக்க ( 1933 -- 2016 ) National List 19 November 2005 21 April Sri Lanka Freedom Party ( United People 's Freedom Alliance ) Rajapaksa 17th Mahinda Rajapaksa 19 November 2005 -- 9 January 2015 Sri Lanka Freedom Party -- Appointed as Prime Minister when Rajapaksa assumed the office of the President of Sri Lanka. 14 D.M. Jayaratne දිසානායක මුදියන්සේලාගේ ජයරත්න திசாநாயக்க முதியன்சேலாகே ஜயரத்ன ( 1931 - ) National List 21 April 9 January 2015 Minister of Buddhasasana & Religious Affairs Sri Lanka Freedom Party ( United People 's Freedom Alliance ) Rajapaksa 18th 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 Incumbent Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs United National Party Sirisena 18th Maithripala Sirisena 9 January 2015 -- Sri Lanka Freedom Party 2015 19th Appointed as Prime Minister by President Maithripala Sirisena after winning 2015 presidential election and was re-elected in the 2015 parliamentary election. Living former Prime Ministers Prime Minister Term of office Date of birth Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga 1994 -- 1994 ( 1945 - 06 - 29 ) 29 June 1945 ( age 72 ) Mahinda Rajapaksa 2004 -- 2005 ( 1945 - 11 - 18 ) 18 November 1945 ( age 72 ) Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne 2010 -- 2015 ( 1931 - 06 - 04 ) 4 June 1931 ( age 87 ) The most recent death of a former Prime Minister was that of Ratnasiri Wickremanayake ( 2000 -- 2001 / 2005 - 2010 ) on 27 December 2016, aged 83. Timeline See also Sri Lanka portal Prime Minister 's Office Notes 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 ''. References General `` Former Prime Ministers '' (. html ). Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. `` Handbook of Parliament - Prime Ministers '' (. jsp ). The Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. `` PMs of Sri Lanka '' (. htm ). Prime Minister 's Office. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 05. Specific Jump up ^ V. Jayanth ( 2003 - 11 - 15 ). `` Sri Lanka 's executive presidency ''. The Hindu. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 05. ^ Jump up to : V.S. Sambandan ( 2005 - 11 - 22 ). `` Ratnasiri Wickremanayake appointed Sri Lankan Premier ''. The Hindu. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. ^ Jump up to : M.B. Dassanayake ( 2008 - 09 - 22 ). `` Dingiri Banda Wijetunga - the journey to greatness ''. Daily News. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Sri Lanka : 19A to the Constitution passed in parliament ''. Jump up ^ Wanniarachchi, Lakruwan. `` Sri Lanka 's new president gets down to mending ties ''. 10 January 2015. Business Insider AFP. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Jump up ^ http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ ^ Jump up to : `` Prime Ministers ''. Parliament.lk. Retrieved 4 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` Senanayake, Don Stephen ( 1884 -- 1952 ) '' Archived 27 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine... The History Channel. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ Buddhika Kurukularatne ( 2007 - 06 - 19 ). `` Dudley -- the reluctant Prince ''. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ K.T. Rajasingham ( 2001 - 11 - 17 ). `` Sri Lanka : The Untold Story ''. Asia Times Online. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Bandaranaike, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias ''. history.com. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ `` Short Term ''. Time. 1959 - 12 - 14. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 11. ^ Jump up to : `` Sirimavo Bandaranaike : First woman premier ''. BBC News. 2000 - 10 - 10. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ `` Former Sri Lanka president dies, leaves mixed legacy ''. CNN. 1996 - 11 - 01. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ Barbara Crossette ( 1988 - 12 - 21 ). `` MAN IN THE NEWS : Ranasinghe Premadasa ; Sri Lankan At the Top ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Profile : Ranil Wickramasinghe ''. BBC News. 2005 - 11 - 22. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ `` 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. Jump up ^ `` Sri Lanka '' Archived 22 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine... The History Channel. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ `` President 's Profile '' Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine... The President 's Fund of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 04. Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka Don Stephen Senanayake Dudley Senanayake John Kotelawala S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Wijeyananda Dahanayake Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike Dudley Senanayake Sirimavo Bandaranaike Junius Richard Jayewardene Ranasinghe Premadasa Dingiri Banda Wijetunga Ranil Wickremesinghe Chandrika Kumaratunga Sirimavo Bandaranaike Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Ranil Wickremesinghe Mahinda Rajapaksa Ratnasiri Wickremanayake Disanayaka Jayaratne Ranil Wickremesinghe hide Parliament of Sri Lanka 15th Parliament Members of the 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka Members Current members By length of service Youngest members Longest - serving members ever Women and minority members Sri Lankan Tamil members Sri Lankan Moor members Other minority members Lady members Appointed members Leaders Prime Minister ( list ) Speaker of the Parliament ( list ) Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees Deputy Chairman of Committees Leader of the House Leader of the Opposition Chief Government Whip Chief Opposition Whip Parliament Secretariat Secretariat leaders Secretaries - General ( list ) Deputy Secretary General ( list ) Assistant Secretary General ( list ) Departments Serjeant - at - Arms Administration Legislative Services Finance and Supplies Hansard Co-ordinating Engineer Catering and Housekeeping Information Systems and Management Powers, procedure and customs Powers Legislative Power of the Sri Lankan Parliament Committees Selection House Standing Orders Parliamentary Business Public Accounts Public Enterprises Privileges Public Petitions Items Mace Chair Bar History History of Parliament of Sri Lanka Building of Parliament Sri Lankan Parliament Building Miscellaneous Historic Sri Lankan legislature Parliaments Districts Website : Parliament of Sri Lanka Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Sri_Lanka&oldid=841021796 '' Categories : Lists of prime ministers Lists of political office - holders in Sri Lanka Prime Ministers of Sri Lanka Lists of government ministers of Sri Lanka Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Webarchive template wayback links Articles with dead external links from May 2017 Use dmy dates from December 2014 Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Català Deutsch فارسی Français Galego Ido Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Bahasa Melayu Occitan Polski Português Русский සිංහල Svenska தமிழ் Українська 9 more Edit links This page was last edited on 13 May 2018, at 15 : 48. 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Question: who was the first sri lankan politician who held the office of the prime minister for four times
Answer: Ranil Wickramasinghe