World Statesmen.org HOME > return to Sri Lanka >>

 
 

 

Sri Lanka Provinces from 1988

Provinces:  Central - Eastern - North Central - North Western - Northern - Sabaragamuwa - Southern - Uva - Western - Former Province:  North Eastern -

Note: On 14 Nov 1987, the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution passed, authorizing the establishment of Provincial Councils to govern the nine provinces which had previously not had any decentralized administrative authority.  But in 2017, the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act No. 17 (of 20 Sep 2017) had the effect of postponing Provincial Council elections as the companion delimitation of constituencies report was rejected by Parliament in 2018. The powers of the Provincial Councils whose terms expired in the meantime will be exercised by the President and/or Parliament under Article 154L and 154M of the Constitution.
 
Party abbreviations: DUNF = Democratic United National Front (split from EJP, est.1990); EJP =  Eksath Jathika Pakshaya (United National Party, liberal conservative, center-right, est.1946); EPRLF = Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (leftist, Tamil nationalist, former separatist militant to 1987, est.1980); ITAK = Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Lanka Tamil State Party, Tamil nationalist, named Federal Party 1949-1972, re-est.2004); JVP = Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (People's Liberation Front, communist, Marxist-Leninist, est.1965); PA = Peoples' Alliance (includes SLNP); SLMP = Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (Sri Lanka People's Party, progressive; in coalition with SLNP within the People's Alliance [PA], est.1984); SLMC = Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (represents Muslim community of Sri Lanka, est.1981); SLNP = Sri Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya (Sri Lanka Freedom Party, social democratic, center-left, Sinhalese nationalist, est.1951); SLPP = Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka People's Front, social democratic, Sinhalese nationalist, populist, anti-federalist, est.6 Nov 2016); TMVP = Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (Tamil Peoples Liberation Tigers, ethnic Tamil, split from LTTE, est.2004); UNF = United National Front (liberal conservative coalition incl. EJP, est.2001); UPFA = United People's Freedom Alliance (center-left nationalist, coalition of PA, SLNP and JVP, est.2004);
 - Former parties/groups: LTTE = Tamilila Vitutalaip Pulikal (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Tamil nationalist, militant separatist, 1976-2009)

Central

[Central province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors
Jun 1988 -  1 Feb 1990     Edwin Loku Bandara Hurulle         (b. 1919 - d. 2009)
 1 Feb 1990 - May 1994     Prema Chandra Imbulana             (b. 1920 - d. 2012)
May 1994 - 1998            Deshamanya Edward Lionel Senanayake(b. 1920 - d. 2000) 
May 1998 - 2000            Stanley Tillekeratne               (b. 1929 - d. 2005)
 1 Feb 2000 - 2001         Tudor Karunatilleke Dassanayake    (b. 19.. - d. 2006)
2001 - 27 Jun 2002         Kiri Banda Ratnayake               (b. 1924 - d. 2004) 
 27 Jun 2002 - 26 Sep 2005  Monty Gopallawa                    (b. 1941 - d. 2005)
 Sep 2005 - 16 Dec 2005     Jagath Balasuriya (acting)         (b. 1940)
16 Dec 2005 - 27 Jan 2015  Tikiri Banda Kobbekaduwa           (b. 1955)
27 Jan 2015 - 14 Mar 2016  Surangani Visaka Ellawala (f)      (b. 1939 - d. 2016)
17 Mar 2016 - 12 Apr 2018  Niluka Ekanayake (f)
12 Apr 2018 - 13 Apr 2018  Reginald Cooray                    (b. 1947 - d. 2023)
13 Apr 2018 -  4 Jan 2019  Punchi Banda Dissanayake           (b. 1943)
 4 Jan 2019 -  5 Aug 2019  Satendra Maithri Gunaratne
 5 Aug 2019 - 21 Nov 2019  Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon
21 Nov 2019 -              Lalith U Gamage

Chief ministers
 9 Jun 1988 - Jun 1998     W.M.P.B. Dissanayake (1st time)    (b. 1927 - d. 2003)  EJP
Jun 1998 - Apr 1999        Vacant
Apr 1999 - Jun 1999        Sarath Ekanayake (1st time)                             PA+EJP
Jun 1999 -  6 Nov 2000     Nandimithra Ekanayake              (b. 1943)            PA+SLNP
 6 Nov 2000 - 30 Apr 2002  Sarath Ekanayake (2nd time)                             PA+EJP
30 Apr 2002 - 29 May 2003  W.M.P.B. Dissanayake (2nd time)    (s.a.)               UNF+EJP
19 May 2003 - 18 Jul 2004  Wasantha Aluvihare                 (b. 1962)            UNF+EJP
                             (acting to 5 Jun 2003 [for Dissanayake to 29 May 2003])
18 Jul 2004 -  8 Oct 2018  Sarath Ekanayake (3rd time)                             UPFA+SLNP
 9 Oct 2018 -              Governor's rule

Eastern

[Eastern province (Sri Lanka)]
Adopted May 2007

 1 Jan 2007                Created from the division of North Eastern province.
Governors
  1 Jan 2007 - 27 Jan 2015  Mohan Wijewickrama                 (b. 1953)
27 Jan 2015 -  4 Jul 2017  Kalupage Austin Fernando           (b. 1942)
 4 Jul 2017 -  4 Jan 2019  Rohitha Bogollagama                (b. 1954)
 4 Jan 2019 -  5 Jun 2019  Mahamood Lebbe Alim Mohamed
                             Hizbullah                        (b. 1963)
 5 Jun 2019 -  4 Dec 2019  Shan Wijayalal de Silva            (b. 1959)
 4 Dec 2019 - 17 May 2023  Anuradha Yahampath (f)
17 May 2023 -              Senthil Thondaman                  (b. 1964)

Chief ministers
16 May 2008 - 18 Sep 2012  Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan      (b. 1975)             TMVP+UPFA
                              "Pillayan"
 18 Sep 2012 -  6 Feb 2015  Mohamed Najeeb Abdul Majeed        (b. 1957)             SLNP+UPFA
 6 Feb 2015 - 30 Sep 2018  Hafiz Nazeer Ahamed                (b. 1961)             SLMC+UPFA
 1 Oct 2018 -              Governor's rule


North Central 

[North Central province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors
 5 May 1988 - 22 Apr 1989  Dingiri Banda Welagedera           (b. 1915 - d. 1989)
 11 May 1989 - 10 May 1994  E.L. Senanayake                    (b. 1921 - d. 2000)
11 May 1994 -  7 Sep 1994  Edwin L.B. Hurulle                 (b. 1919 - d. 2009)
  7 Sep 1994 - 12 Jul 1998  Maithripala Senanayake             (b. 1916 - d. 1998)
18 Aug 1998 - 27 Aug 2003  G.M.S. Samaraweera                 (b. 1937? - d. 2006)
 27 Aug 2003 - 13 Nov 2006  Jagath Balasuriya                  (b. 1940)
13 Nov 2006 - 27 Jan 2015  Karunarathna Divulgane
                            (= Herath Mudiyanselage Karunarathna)
27 Jan 2015 - 12 Apr 2018  Punchi Banda Dissanayake           (b. 1943)
12 Apr 2018 -  4 Jan 2019  Marappullige "M.P." Jayasinghe
 4 Jan 2019 -  4 Dec 2019  Sarath Ekanayake
 4 Dec 2019 - 23 Mar 2020  Upali Tissa Vitharana              (b. 1934)
23 Mar 2020 -              Mahiepala Herath                   (b. 1945)

Chief ministers
 8 May 1988 -  2 May 1996  Gamage Don Mahindasoma             (b. 1928)            EJP
 2 May 1996 - Jun 1998     Jayasena Dissanayake                                    EJP
Jun 1998 - Apr 1999        Vacant
15 Apr 1999 - Jun 1999     Jayani Tissera Dissanayake (f)                          PA
Jun 1999 - 24 Sep 2012     Berty Premalal Dissanayake         (b. 1954 - d. 2013)  SLNP+UPFA
24 Sep 2012 - 28 Jan 2015  Samarakoon Mudiyanselage Ranjith                       SLNP+UPFA
28 Jan 2015 -  1 Oct 2017  Peshala Jayarathne Bandara                              UPFA
 2 Oct 2017 -              Governor's rule


North Eastern 

[North Eastern Province to 2016 (Sri Lanka)]
to 31 Dec 2019

 1 Jan 2007                Divided into Eastern and Northern provinces.

Governors 
30 Nov 1988 - 30 Nov 1993  Nalin Seneviratne                  (b. 1931 - d. 2009)
30 Nov 1993 - 23 Aug 1994  M.E. Lionel Fernando               (b. 1936 - d. 2024)
 13 Jan 1995 - 20 Oct 1998  Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka     (b. 1936 - d. 2004)
13 Nov 1998 - 30 Nov 2004  Asoka Jayawardena                  (b. 1937)
  6 Dec 2004 - 20 Jan 2006  Tyronne Fernando                   (b. 1941 - d. 2008)
20 Jan 2006 - 31 Dec 2006  Mohan Wijewickrema                 (b. 1953)

Chief Ministers
10 Dec 1988 - 10 Mar 1990  Annamalai Varadaraja Perumal       (b. 1967)             EPRLF
10 Mar 1990 - 31 Dec 2006  Governor's rule

Tamil Eelam

[Tamil Tigers (LTTE) flag 1990-2009 (Sri Lanka)]
27 May 1990 - 18 May 2009

Jul 1983                   Tamil Eelam declared by LTTE in rebellion.
18 May 2009                Dissolved with the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran.

President and Prime minister (National Leader of the LTTE)
15 Jul 1983 - 18 May 2009  Velupillai Prabhakaran "Thambi"    (b. 1954 - d. 2009)  LTTE
                              (in rebellion, in northeast and Jaffna)


North Western

[North Western province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors
 1 Jun 1988 - 31 Jan 1989  Dingiri Banda Wijetunga            (b. 1916 - d. 2008)
 1 Feb 1989 - 13 Oct 1993  Montague Jayawickrema              (b. 1911 - d. 2001)
 13 Oct 1993 -  7 Jul 1994  Karunasena Kodituwakku             (b. 1945)
 8 Jul 1994 - 12 Jan 1995  Ananda Tissa de Alwis              (b. 1919 - d. 1996)
 13 Jan 1995 -  3 Jan 1999  Hector Arawwawala                  (b. 19.. - d. 2013)
 3 Jan 1999 - 30 Apr 2004  Siripala Jayaweera
30 Apr 2004 -  5 Oct 2007  Dharmadasa Wanniarachchi           (b. 1921 - d. 2007)
  6 Oct 2007 - 23 Jan 2015  Tissa Reginald Balalla             (b. 1937)
23 Jan 2015 - 12 Apr 2018  Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake (f)      (b. 1938)
12 Apr 2018 -  4 Jan 2019  Kanapathipillai Cathiravelpillai
                             "K.C." Logeswaran
 4 Jan 2019 - 21 Nov 2019  Peshala Jayarathna Bandara
21 Nov 2019 - 31 Aug 2020  Ahamed Jamaldeen Mohamed Muzammil  (b. 1949)
31 Aug 2020 -  7 Dec 2021  Raja Collure                       (b. 1938 - d. 2021)
 9 Dec 2021 - 17 May 2023  Wasantha Kumar Jayadeva Karannagoda(b. 1952)
17 May 2023 -              Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena          (b. 1955)

Chief Ministers
 4 May 1988 - 19 Oct 1993  Gamini Jayawickrema Perera         (b. 1941 - d. 2024)  EJP
19 Oct 1993 - 27 Aug 1994  Gamini M. Premachandra             (b. 1940 - d. 1994)  EJP
 27 Aug 1994 - 28 Jan 1999  R. Nimal K. Bandara                                     EJP
28 Jan 1999 - 2002         Seneviratne Bandara Nawinne        (b. 1946)            PA
2002 -  3 Oct 2013         Athula Kumara Wijesinghe                                UPFA+PA
 3 Oct 2013 -  8 Sep 2015  Dayasiri Jayasekara                (b. 1969)            UPFA+SLNP
 8 Sep 2015 - 10 Oct 2018  Dharmasiri Dassanayake             (b. 1971)            UPFA+SLNP
11 Oct 2018 -              Governor's rule

Northern

[Northern Province (Sri Lanka)] Adopted May 2007

 1 Jan 2007                Created from the division of North Eastern province.
Governors
  1 Jan 2007 -  3 Jul 2008  Mohan Wijewickrama (acting)        (b. 1953)
  3 Jul 2008 - 10 Oct 2008  Victor Perera                      (b. 1948? - d. 2023)
 10 Oct 2008 - 12 Jul 2009  W.W.M.R. Dickson Sarathchandra Dela
 12 Jul 2009 - 27 Jan 2015  Gammanpila Arachchige Chandrasiri  (b. 1954)
27 Jan 2015 - 16 Feb 2016  Hewa Matara Gamage Siripala        (b. 1947)
                             Palihakkara
16 Feb 2016 - 31 Dec 2018  Reginald Cooray                    (b. 1947 - d. 2023)
 7 Jan 2019 - 20 Nov 2019  Suren Raghavan                     (b. 1961)
30 Dec 2019 - 11 Oct 2021  Prince Sarojini Manmatharajah
                             Charles (f) (1st time)
11 Oct 2021 - 17 May 2023  Jeevan Thiagarajah
17 May 2023 -              Prince Sarojini Manmatharajah
                             Charles (f) (2nd time)

Chief minister
 7 Oct 2013 - 25 Oct 2018  Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam       (b. 1939)             ITAK
                             Vigneswaran
26 Oct 2018 -              Governor's rule


Sabaragamuwa

[Sabaragamuwa province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors 
30 Apr 1988 - 1993         Noel Wimalasena                    (b. 1914 - d. 1994)
 1993 -  9 Jun 2005         C.N. Saliya W. Mathew              (b. 19.. - d. 2022)
  9 Jun 2005 - Feb 2008     Reggie Padmasena Ranatunga         (b. 1937 - d. 2008)
 22 Feb 2008 -  2 Oct 2008  W.W.M.R. Dickson Sarathchandra Dela
  2 Oct 2008 - 12 May 2009  Mohan Saliya Ellawala              (b. 1948 - d. 2009)
 May 2009 -  5 Jul 2009     Alavi Moulana (acting)             (b. 1932 - d. 2016)
  5 Jul 2009 - 21 Apr 2010  Janaka Priyantha Bandara           (b. 1968)
21 Apr 2010 - 27 Jan 2015  Wijesinghe Jayaweera Mudiyanselage (b. 1941 - d. 2021)
                             "W.J.M." Lokubandara
27 Jan 2015 - 12 Apr 2018  Marshal Perera                     (b. 1931? - d. 2020)
12 Apr 2018 -  7 Jan 2019  Niluka Ekanayake (f)
 7 Jan 2019 - 21 Nov 2019  Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Dhamma
                             Dissanayaka
21 Nov 2019 - 13 Jun 2023  Tikiri Kobbekaduwa                 (b. 1955)
13 Jun 2023 -              Navin Dissanayake                  (b. 1969)
 
Chief ministers
Apr 1988 - Apr 1989        G.V. Punchinilame                  (d. ....)            EJP
10 Apr 1989 - Mar 1993     Abeyratne Pilapitiya               (b. 1925)            EJP
Mar 1993 - Jun 1998        H. Jayatilake Podinilame           (b. 1946 - d. 2013)  EJP
Jun 1998 - Apr 1999        Vacant
Apr 1999 - Jun 1999        Kantha Gunatilleke
Jun 1999 - Oct 2000        Athauda Seneviratne                (b. 1931 - d. 2022)  PA
Oct 2000 - 13 Dec 2001     Asoka Jayawardena                  (b. 1937)            PA
13 Dec 2001 - 16 Jul 2004  Mohan Saliya Ellawala              (s.a.)               PA
16 Jul 2004 - 26 Sep 2017  Mahiepala Herath                   (b. 1945)            UPFA+SLNP
27 Sep 2017 -              Governor's rule


Southern

[Southern province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors
13 Jun 1988 - 31 Dec 1993  Mohamed Abdul Bakeer Markar        (b. 1917 - d. 1997)
 31 Dec 1993 - Dec 1994     Leslie Mervyn Jayaratna
 Jan 1995 - 20 Sep 1999     Neville T.D. Kanakaratne           (b. 1923 - d. 1999)
1999 - 2002                Ananda Dassanayake                 (b. 1920 - d. 2012)
 1 Feb 2002 - 23 Oct 2006  Kingsley Tissa Wickramaratne       (b. 1930? - d. 2008)
 23 Oct 2006 - 23 Jan 2015  Kumari Balasuriya (f)              (b. 1949)
 23 Jan 2015 - 12 Apr 2018  Hemakumara Nanayakkara             (b. 1953)
12 Apr 2018 -  9 Jan 2019  Marshal Perera                     (b. 1931? - d. 2020)
 9 Jan 2019 -  5 Aug 2019  Rajith Keerthi Thennakoon
 5 Aug 2019 - 21 Nov 2019  Hemal Gunasekara                   (b. 1959)
21 Nov 2019 -              Willie Gamage

Chief ministers
16 Jun 1988 - Oct 1993     Matarage Sirisena Amarasiri        (b. 1925 - d. 2007)  EJP
Oct 1993 - Jan 1994        Amarasiri Dodangoda (1st time)     (b. 1942 - d. 2009)  UNP+SLNP
 Jan 1994 - Mar 1994        Vacant
Mar 1994 - Sep 1994        Amarasiri Dodangoda (2nd time)     (s.a.)               UNP+SLNP
 Sep 1994 - 21 Dec 2001     Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena           (b. 1945)            PA+SLNP
21 Dec 2001 - 16 Jul 2004  H.G. Sirisena                      (b. 19.. - d. 2018)  PA
16 Jul 2004 - 10 Apr 2019  Shan Wijayalal de Silva            (b. 1959)            PA+SLNP
11 Apr 2019 -              Governor's rule


Uva

[Uva province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors
 4 May 1988 - 31 Jan 1990  Prema Chandra Imbulana             (b. 1920 - d. 2012)
 2 Feb 1990 - 24 Mar 1993  Tilak Ratnayake
25 Mar 1993 - 31 Dec 1994  Abeyratne Pilapitiya               (b. 1952)
 Jan 1995 - 31 Oct 1999     Ananda Dassanayake                 (b. 1920 - d. 2012)
  1 Nov 1999 - 25 Apr 2003  Matarage Sirisena Amarasiri        (b. 1925 - d. 2007)
25 Apr 2003 - 27 Jan 2015  Caluadewagey Nanda Mathew          (b. 1940 - d. 2020)
27 Jan 2015 - 12 Apr 2018  Marappullige Jayasinghe
12 Apr 2018 - 11 May 2018  Punchi Banda Dissanayake           (b. 1943)
                             (acting from 13 Apr 2018)
11 May 2018 -  7 Jan 2019  Ariya Bandara Rekawa               (b. 1941)
 7 Jan 2019 -  9 Jan 2019  Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon
 9 Jan 2019 -  5 Aug 2019  Marshal Perera                     (b. 1931? - d. 2020)
 5 Aug 2019 - 21 Nov 2019  Satendra Maithri Gunaratne
21 Nov 2019 - 31 Aug 2020  Raja Collure                       (b. 1938 - d. 2021)
31 Aug 2020 -              Ahamed Jamaldeen Mohamed Muzammil  (b. 1949)

Chief Ministers
May 1988 - Jun 1998        Percy Samaraweera                  (b. 1929 - d. 1999)  EJP
Jun 1998 - Apr 1999        Vacant
Apr 1999                   Nalini Weerawanni (f)                                   PA
Apr 1999 - 29 Oct 2001     Samaraweera Weerawanni             (b. 1943)            PA
29 Oct 2001 - 22 Jul 2004  Aththintha Marakalage Buddhadasa                        EJP
 22 Jul 2004 - 20 Aug 2009  Gamini Vijith Vijithamuni Soysa                         EJP
 20 Aug 2009 - 14 Jan 2015  Shashindra Kumara Rajapakse        (b. 1976)            UPFA+SLNP
 14 Jan 2015 - Sep 2015     Harin Fernando                     (b. 1978)            EJP
15 Sep 2015 -  8 Oct 2019  Chamara Sampath Dassanayake        (b. 1971)            UPFA
 9 Oct 2019 -              Governor's rule


Western

[Western Province (Sri Lanka)]

Governors
 6 Jun 1988 - 10 Jun 1994  Suppiah Sharvananda                (b. 1923 - d. 2007)
 11 Jul 1994 -  1 Dec 1994  Deva M. Swaminathan                (b. 1945)
 3 Jan 1995 -  2 Jan 2000  K. Vignarajah
21 Jan 2000 -  1 Feb 2002  Pathmanathan Ramanathan            (b. 1932 - d. 2006)
  1 Feb 2002 - 23 Jan 2015  Alavi Moulana                      (b. 1932 - d. 2016)
23 Jan 2015 - 12 Apr 2018  Kanapathipillai Cathiravelpillai
                             "K.C." Logeswaran
12 Apr 2018 -  4 Jan 2019  Hemakumara Nanayakkara             (b. 1953)
 4 Jan 2019 -  4 Jun 2019  Mohamed Azath Sanoon Salley        (b. 1963)
 4 Jun 2019 - 21 Nov 2019  Ahamed Jamaldeen Mohamed Muzammil  (b. 1949)
21 Nov 2019 - 24 Mar 2020  Seetha Arambepola (f)              (b. 1974)
24 Mar 2020 -              Roshan Goonetileke                 (b. 1956)

Chief Ministers
 9 Jun 1988 - 16 Mar 1993  Susil Moonesinghe                  (b. 1930 - d. 2012)  EJP
21 May 1993 - 21 Aug 1994  Chandrika Bandaranaike             (b. 1945)            SLMP+PA
                             Kumaratunga (f)
22 Aug 1994 - 11 Jul 1995  Morris Rajapaksa                   (b. .... - d. 1995)  PA
13 Jul 1995 - Jun 1998     Susil Premajayantha (1st time)     (b. 1955)            PA
Jun 1998 - Apr 1999        Vacant
Apr 1999 -  9 Nov 2000     Susil Premajayantha (2nd time)     (s.a.)               PA
 9 Nov 2000 - 22 Jun 2005  Reginald Cooray (1st time)         (b. 1947 - d. 2023)  UPFA+PA
May 2004 - 16 Jul 2004     Vacant
16 Jul 2004 - 22 Jun 2005  Reginald Cooray (2nd time)         (s.a.)               UPFA+PA
22 Jun 2005 -  3 Jul 2005  Nandana Mendis                                          UPFA+PA
 3 Jul 2005 -  4 May 2009  Reginald Cooray (3rd time)         (s.a.)               UPFA+PA
 4 May 2009 -  8 Sep 2015  Prasanna Ranatunga                 (b. 1967)            UPFA+SLNP
 8 Sep 2015 - 21 Apr 2019  Isuru Devapriya                                         UPFA+SLNP
22 Apr 2019 -              Governor's rule

  




© Ben Cahoon