List of rulers of Sri Lanka
Kings of Sri Lanka
The island or kingdom has had various names over the centuries, including Laṃkā, Tāmraparnī, Singhala, Silan and Sarandib; more about this in the article Sri Lanka .
- Vijaya 543-505 BC In Tambapanni
- Interregnum 505-504 BC Chr.
- Panduvasudeva 504-474 BC In Vijitapura
- Abhaya 474–454 BC Chr.
- Interregnum 454-437 BC Chr.
- Pandukabhaya 437-367 BC In Anuradhapura
- Mutasiva 367-307 BC Chr.
- Devanampiya Tissa 307-267 BC Chr.
- Uttiya 267-257 BC Chr.
- Mahasiva 257-247 BC Chr.
- Suratissa 247-237 BC Chr.
- Sena or Guttika 237–215 BC Chr.
- Asela 215-205 BC Chr.
- Elara 205-161 BC BC, Tamil king
- Dutthagamani 161-137 BC Chr.
- Saddha Tissa 137-119 BC Chr.
- Thulatthana 119 BC Chr.
- Lanja Tissa 119-109 BC Chr.
- Khallata Naga 109-104 BC Chr.
- Vattagamani Abhaya 104 BC Chr.
- Tamil rule 104–88 BC Chr.
- Vattagamani Abhaya 88-76 BC Chr.
- Mahachuli Mahatissa 76-62 BC Chr.
- Chorenaga 62–50 BC Chr.
- Kuda Tissa 50-47 BC Chr.
- Siva (Sri Lanka) 47 BC Chr.
- Vatuka 47 BC Chr.
- Darubhatika Tissa 47 BC Chr.
- Niliya 47 BC Chr.
- Anula 47-42 BC Chr.
- Kutakanna Tissa 42-20 BC Chr.
- Bhatikabhaya Abhaya 20-9 BC Chr.
- Mahadathika Mahanaga 9 BC Chr. – 21
- Amandagamani Abhaya 21-30
- Kanirajanu Tissa 30-33
- Chulabhaya 33-35
- Sivali 35
- Interregnum 35-38
- Ilanaga 38-44
- Chandamukha 44-52
- Yassalalaka Tissa 52-60
- Subha 60-66
- Vasabha 66-110
- Vankanasika Tissa 110-113
- Gajabahu I. 113-135
- Mahallaka Naga 135-141
- Bhatika Tissa 141-165
- Kanittha Tissa 165-193
- Khujjanaga 193-195
- Kunchanaga 195-196
- Sirinaga I. 196-215
- Voharika Tissa 215-237
- Abhayanaga 237-245
- Sirinaga II. 245-247
- Vijaya Kumara 247-248
- Sangha Tissa I. 248-252
- Sirisamghabodhi 252-254
- Gathabhaya 254-267
- Jettha Tissa I. 267-277
- Mahasena 277-304
- Sirimeghavanna 304-332
- Jettha Tissa II. 332-341
- Buddhadasa 341-370
- Upatissa I. 370-410
- Mahanama 410-428
- Mittasena 428-429
- Tamil rule 429–459
- Dhatusena 459-477
- Kassapa I. 477-491
- Moggallana I. 491-508 in Anuradhapura
- Kumara Dhatusena 508-516
- Kittisena 516-517
- Siva 517
- Upatissa II. 517-518
- Silakala Ambosamanera 518-531
- Dathappabhuti 531
- Moggallana II. 531-551
- Kittisirimegha 551-569
- Mahanaga 569-571
- Aggabodhi I. 571-604
- Aggabodhi II. 604-614
- Sangha Tissa 614
- Moggallana III. 614-619
- Silameghavanna 619-628; Beginning of the Pallava dynasty
- Aggabodhi III. Sirisanghabodhi 628
- Jettha Tissa III. 628-629
- Aggabodhi III. 629-639 again
- Dathopa Tissa I. Hatthadpatha 639-650
- Kassapa II. 650-659
- Dappula I. 659
- Dathopa Tissa II. 659-667
- Aggabodhi IV. 667-683
- Datta 683-684
- Hatthadpatha II. 684
- Manavanna 684-718
- Aggabodhi V. 718-724
- Kassapa III. 724-730
- Mahinda I. 730-733
- Aggabodhi VI. 733-772
- Aggabodhi VII. 772-777 in Polonnaruwa
- Mahinda II. Silamegha 777-797 in Anuradhapura
- Dappula II. (Or Udaya I. ) 797-801
- Mahinda III. 801-804
- Aggabodhi VIII. 804-815
- Dappula III. 815-831
- Aggabodhi IX. 831-833
- Sena I. 833-853
- Sena II. 853-887
- Udaya II. 887-898
- Kassapa IV. 898-914
- Kassapa V. 914-923
- Dappula IV. 923-924
- Dappula V. 924-935
- Udaya II. 935-938
- Sena III. 938-946
- Udaya III. 946-954
- Sena IV. 954-956
- Mahinda IV. 956-972
- Sena V. 972-982
- Mahinda V. 982-1019
- Kassapa VI. 1019-1040
- Mahalana Kitti 1040-1042
- Vikkama Pandu 1042-1043
- Jagatipala 1043-1046
- Parakkama Pandu 1046-1048
- Loka 1048-1054
- Kassapa VII. 1054-1055
- Vijaya Bahu I. 1055-1110
- Jayabahu I. 1110-1111
- Vikkama Bahu I. 1111-1132
- Gajabahu II. 1132-1153
- Parakrama Bahu I. 1153-1186
- Vijaya Bahu II. 1186-1187
- Mahinda VI. 1187
- Nishshankamalla 1187-1196
- Vikkamabahu II. 1196
- Chodaganga 1196-1197
- Lilavati 1197-1200 (first reign)
- Sahassamalla 1200-1202
- Kalyanavati 1202-1208
- Dharmashoka 1208-1209
- Anikanga mahadipada 1209
- Lilavati 1209-1210 (second reign)
- Lokissara 1210-1211
- Lilavati 1211-1212 (third reign)
- Parakrama Pandu 1212-1215
- Magha 1215-1236, Kalinga king
- Vijayabahu III. 1236
- Parakramabahu II. 1236-1270
- Vijayabahu IV. 1270-1272
- Bhuvanaikabahu I. 1272-1285
- Interregnum 1285-1287
- Parakramabahu III. 1287–1293 ( Marco Polo visits him in 1292)
- Bhuvanaikabahu II. 1293-1302 in Kurunagala
- Parakramabahu IV. 1302-1326
- Bhuvanaikabahu III. 1326-1335
- Vijayabahu V. 1335-1341
- Bhuvanaikabahu IV. 1341-1351 in Gambola
- Parakramabahu V. 1344-1359 in Dedigama
- Vikramabahu III. 1357-1374 in Gambola
- Bhuvanaikabahu V. 1372-1408 in Gambola
- Parakrama Bahu VI. 1408–1467 in Kotte
- Jayabahu II. 1467-1470 in Kotte
- Bhuvanaikabahu VI. 1470-1478
- Parakramabahu VII. 1478-1484
- Parakramabahu VIII. 1484-1508
- Portuguese invasion 1505
- Vijayabahu VI. 1508-1521
- Bhuvanaikabahu VII. 1521-1543
- Dharmapala 1543–1597
Kings of Kandy
Threatened by European colonial powers , the Sinhalese kings moved their residence to Kandy .
- Vimala Dharma Surya I. 1590-1604
- Senate 1604-1635
- Rajasingha II. 1635-1687
- Vimala Dharma Surya II. 1687-1707
- Narendra Sinha 1707-1739
- Vijaya Rajasinha 1739-1747
- Kirtisri 1747-1781
- Rajadhirarajasinha 1781-1798
- Sri Vikrama Rajasinha 1798-1815
Kings of Portugal and captains general of Ceilaõ
The Portuguese colonial rulers called the island Ceilaõ .
- Philip I 1580-1598
- Philip II. 1598-1621
- Pedro Lopos de Sousa 1594
- Jeronimo de Azevedo 1594-1613
- Francisco de Meneses 1613-1614
- Manuel Mascarenhas Homem 1614-1616
- Nuno Álvares Pereira 1616–1618
- Constantino de Sa de Noronha 1618-1622
- Philip III 1621-1640
- Jorge do Albuquerque 1622-1623
- Constantino de Sa do Noronha 1623-1630
- Philippe Mascarenhas 1630-1631
- Jorge de Almeida 1631-1633
- Diego de Mello de Castro 1633-1635
- Jorge de Almeida 1635-1636
- Diogo de Mello de Castro 1636-1638
- Antonio Mascarenhas 1638-1640
- John IV. 1640-1645
- Philippe Mascarenhas 1640-1645
- Manuel Mascarenhas Homem 1645-1653
- Francisco de Mello de Castro 1653-1655
- Antonio de Sousa Coutinho 1655-1656
- Antonio de Amaral de Menezes 1656-1658 in Jaffna
Dutch governors of Ceylon
Under Dutch and later British rule, the island was called Ceylon .
- William J. Coster 1640
- Jan Thyszoon Payart 1640-1646
- Joan Maetsuycker 1646-1650
- Jacob van Kittensteyn 1650-1653
- Adriaan van der Meyden 1653–1660 and 1661–1663
- Ryklof van Goens 1660–1661 and 1663
- Jacob Hustaart 1663-1664
- Ryklof van Goons 1664-1675
- Ryklof van Goens Jr. 1675-1679
- Laurens Pyl 1679-1692
- Thomas van Rhee 1692-1697
- Gerrit de Heere 1697–1702
- Cornelis Jan Simons 1702-1706
- Hendrik Becker 1706-1716
- Isaac Augustin Rumpf 1716–1723
- Johannes Hertenberg 1723–1726
- Petrus Vuyst 1726-1729
- Stephanus Versluys 1729-1732
- Jacob Christian Pielat 1732-1734
- Diederik van Domburg 1734–1736
- Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff 1736-1739
- Willem Maurits Bruyninck 1739-1742
- Daniel Overbeek 1742-1743
- Julius Valentin van Gollenesse 1743–1751
- Gerard Joan Vreeland 1751-1752
- Johan Gideon Loten 1752–1757
- Jan Schreuder 1757–1762
- LJ Baron van Eck 1762–1705
- Iman Willem Falck 1765–1785
- Willem J. van de Graaff 1785-1794
- Johann Gerhard von Angelbeck 1794–1796
British Governors of Ceylon
- The governor of Madras 1796–1798
- Frederick North, 5th Earl of Guildford 1798-1805
- Sir Thomas Maitland 1805-1812
- Sir Robert Brownrigg, Bart 1812-1822
- Sir Edward Paget 1822-1824
- Sir Edward Barnes 1824-1831
- Sir Robert John Wilmot-Horton, 3rd Baronet 1831–1837
- James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie 1837–1841
- Sir Colin Campbell 1841-1847
- George Byng, 7th Viscount Torrington 1847-1850
- Sir George William Anderson 1850–1855
- Sir Henry George Ward 1855-1860
- Sir Charles Justin MacCarthy 1860-1865
- Sir Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead 1865–1872
- Sir William Henry Gregory 1872–1877
- Sir James Robert Longden 1877-1883
- Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon 1883-1890
- Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock 1890-1896
- Sir Joseph West Ridgeway 1896-1903
- Sir Henry Arthur Blake 1903-1907
- Sir Henry Edward McCallum 1907-1913
- Sir Robert Chalmers 1913-1916
- Sir John Anderson 1916-1918
- Sir William Henry Manning 1918-1925
- Sir Hugh Charles Clifford 1925-1927
- Sir Herbert James Stanley 1927-1931
- Sir Graeme Thomson 1931-1933
- Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs 1933-1937
- Sir Andrew Caldecott 1937-1944
- Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore 1944-1948
Governors General of the Dominion Ceylon
In 1948 Ceylon was granted independence, with the state in the Commonwealth keeping the British monarch as head of state. This was represented by a governor general.
| Surname | Beginning of the term of office | Term expires |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Monck-Mason Moore | February 4, 1948 | July 6, 1949 |
| Herwald Ramsbotham | July 6, 1949 | 17th July 1954 |
| Oliver Goonetilleke | 17th July 1954 | March 2, 1962 |
| William Gopallawa | March 2, 1962 | May 22, 1972 |
President of Sri Lanka
With the conversion of the country into a republic on May 22, 1972, the name was also changed to Sri Lanka .
| Surname | Beginning of the term of office | Term expires | Political party |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Gopallawa | May 22, 1972 | 4th February 1978 | - |
| Junius Richard Jayawardene | 4th February 1978 | January 2, 1989 | UNP |
| Ranasinghe Premadasa | January 2, 1989 | May 1, 1993 | UNP |
| Dingiri Banda Wijetunga | May 1, 1993 | November 12, 1994 | UNP |
| Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga | November 12, 1994 | November 19, 2005 | SLFP |
| Mahinda Rajapaksa | November 19, 2005 | January 9, 2015 | SLFP |
| Maithripala Sirisena | January 9, 2015 | in office | NDF |