Governor of Ceylon | |
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![]() Flag of Governor of Ceylon | |
Style | His Excellency |
Residence | Government House |
Appointer | Monarch of the United Kingdom |
Precursor | Governor of Ceylon |
Formation | August 1795 |
First holder | Patrick Alexander Agnew as Military Governor |
Final holder | Henry Monck-Mason Moore |
Abolished | 4 February 1948 |
Succession | Governor-General of Ceylon |
The governor of Ceylon was the representative in Ceylon of the British Crown from 1795 to 1948. In this capacity, the governor was president of the Executive Council and Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in Ceylon. The governor was the head of the British colonial administration in Ceylon, reporting to the Colonial Office.
With Ceylon gaining self-rule and dominion status with the creation of Dominion of Ceylon in 1948, this office was replaced by the Governor-General, who represented the British monarch as the head of state. The office of Governor-General was itself abolished in 1972 and replaced by the post of President when Sri Lanka became a republic.