Minister D. M. Jayaratne  -  Speaker of the Parliament Chamal Rajapaksa  -  Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake Legislature Parliament Independence from the United Kingdom    -  Dominion (Self rule) 4 February 1948   -  Republic 22 May 1972  Area  -  Total 65,610 km 2  ( 122 nd ) 25,332 sq mi   -  Water (%) 4.4 Population  -