Governor-General of Ceylon
Emblem of the Dominion of Ceylon
Flag of the governor-general
from 1953 to 1972
Viceregal
StyleHis Excellency the Right Honourable
StatusAbolished
ResidenceQueen's House, Colombo
AppointerMonarch of Ceylon
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term lengthAt Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation4 February 1948
First holderSir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
Final holderWilliam Gopallawa
Abolished22 May 1972

The governor-general of Ceylon was the representative of the Ceylonese monarch in the Dominion of Ceylon from the country's independence in 1948 until it became the republic of Sri Lanka in 1972.[1]

History

There were four governors-general.

Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore became the last governor of Ceylon and first governor-general when the Ceylon Order in Council, the first constitution of independent Ceylon came into effect. He was followed by Lord Soulbury, thereafter by Oliver Goonetilleke the first Ceylonese to be appointed to the post. When William Gopallawa was appointed as governor-general in 1962, he discarded the ceremonial uniform of office.

When Ceylon became a republic in 1972 the post was replaced by the office of President of Sri Lanka.

Functions

The monarch, on the advice of the prime minister, appointed a governor-general to be his/her representative in Ceylon. Neither the monarch nor the governor-general had any direct role in the day-today administration of the country (however, both possessed reserve powers under the constitution which would allow them full control of the nation's governance whenever in their opinion a case of emergency requiring such action arises). Real legislative and executive responsibilities rested with the elected representatives of the people. During several periods when a state of emergency was declared the governor-general used his reserved powers. In the absence of the governor-general, the chief justice of Ceylon became acting governor-general.

The governor-general's powers and functions was informally divided into three areas: powers exercised on the advice of the prime minister, discretionary powers exercised on own ceremonial and social.

Powers exercised on the advice of the prime minister

The governor-general was required to assent all bills passed in parliament to become an Act, by convention all bills received assent. In addition, the constitution and other legislation granted the governor-general powers to be carried out on advice of the prime minister, these included;[2]

Discretionary powers

The governor-general had the discretionary powers to appoint the prime minister, dissolve parliament and dismissal of a government that refuses to resign. The governor-general administers the oath of office of ministers and parliamentary secretaries. It is to the governor-general they would tender their resignations too.[2]

Constitutional role

The governor-general represented the monarch on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of Parliament, the presentation of honours and military parades. Under the Constitution, he was given authority to act in some matters, for example in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service, in proroguing Parliament and so on, but only in a few cases was he empowered to act entirely on his own discretion.[2]

Governor-general's staff

The governor-general had a permanent staff that was based at the Queen's House to assist in execution of his duties.

The Governor-General several Extra Aides-de-camp to serve on a permanent or ad hoc basis. The Governor-General also maintained a ceremonial Lascarin Guard.

Residence

The official residence and office of the governor-general was the Queen's House (currently the President's House) in Colombo. Other governor-general residences include:

List of governors-general of Ceylon

Following is a list of people who have served as governor-general of Ceylon.[3]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore
(1887–1964)		 4 February
1948		 6 July
1949		 1 year, 152 days
George VI
(1948–1952)
2 Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
(1887–1971)		 6 July
1949		 17 July
1954		 5 years, 11 days

Elizabeth II
(1952–1972)
3 Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke
(1892–1978)		 17 July
1954		 2 March
1962		 7 years, 228 days
4 William Gopallawa
(1897–1981)		 2 March
1962		 22 May
1972		 10 years, 81 days

Flag of the governor-general

References

  1. ↑ "Ceylon Constitution Order in Council 1946". Tamilnation. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Cooray, L.J.M. (1984). Constitutional Government in Sri Lanka (First ed.). Colombo: Lake House Printers and Publishers.
  3. ↑ "Parliament of Sri Lanka - Heads of State".
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