Governors of British Ceylon
| Governor of Ceylon | |
|---|---|
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 |
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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.