List of Presidents of Sri Lanka: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Sri Lanka from 1972 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Sri Lanka, former presidents, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Sri Lanka: Anura Kumara Dissanayake (in office since 2024).

Presidents of Sri Lanka in order, with years in office

William Gopallawa

Served: 1972–1978

First president of Sri Lanka and its only non-executive president.

J. R. Jayewardene

Served: 1978–1989

First executive president, under the 1978 constitution he introduced.

Ranasinghe Premadasa

Served: 1989–1993

Assassinated in a bomb attack on 1 May 1993.

D. B. Wijetunga

Served: 1993–1994

Prime minister and vice president who completed Premadasa's term.

Chandrika Kumaratunga

Served: 1994–2005

Sri Lanka's first woman president and its longest-serving.

Mahinda Rajapaksa

Served: 2005–2015

Served two terms and lost his bid for a third in January 2015.

Maithripala Sirisena

Served: 2015–2019

Defeated Rajapaksa in the 2015 election.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Served: 2019–2022

Resigned in July 2022 after months of mass protests over the economic crisis.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

Served: 2022–2024

Acting president from 14 July 2022; elected by parliament on 20 July 2022 to complete the term.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Served: 2024–present

Leader of the National People's Power coalition who won the September 2024 election.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Sri Lanka

Who is the current president of Sri Lanka?

The current head of state of Sri Lanka is Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in office since 2024.

Who were the previous presidents of Sri Lanka?

The presidents and heads of state of Sri Lanka listed on this page, in order, are: William Gopallawa, J. R. Jayewardene, Ranasinghe Premadasa, D. B. Wijetunga, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Who was the first president of Sri Lanka?

William Gopallawa was the first president of Sri Lanka, in office 1972–1978.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Sri Lanka; Parliament of Sri Lanka, Heads of State list (checked Nov 2026). Includes the ceremonial presidency of 1972–1978 and the executive presidency created in 1978.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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