William Gopallawa
President of Sri Lanka from 1972 to 1978 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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William Gopallawa MBE (Sinhala: විලියම් ගොපල්ලව, Tamil: வில்லியம் கோப்பல்லாவ; 17 September 1896 – 31 January 1981) was the last Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and the first and only non-executive President of Sri Lanka from 1972 to 1978, when Ceylon declared itself a republic and changed its name to Sri Lanka.
Quick Facts His ExcellencyMBE, 1st President of Sri Lanka ...
William Gopallawa | |
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1st President of Sri Lanka | |
In office 22 May 1972 – 4 February 1978 | |
Prime Minister | |
Preceded by | Office established (Elizabeth II as Queen of Ceylon) |
Succeeded by | Junius Richard Jayewardene |
4th Governor-General of Ceylon | |
In office 2 March 1962 – 22 May 1972 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | |
Preceded by | Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke |
Succeeded by | Office abolished (Himself as President of Sri Lanka) |
5th Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement | |
In office 16 August 1976 – 4 February 1978 | |
Preceded by | Houari Boumédienne |
Succeeded by | Junius Richard Jayawardene |
Personal details | |
Born | (1896-09-17)17 September 1896 Matale, British Ceylon |
Died | 31 January 1981(1981-01-31) (aged 84) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Political party | Independent |
Spouse | |
Children | 5 |
Alma mater | |
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Gopallawa served as Governor-General during the tenure of three different governments, two headed by Sirimavo Bandaranaike of the SLFP and one headed by Dudley Senanayake of the UNP.