List of Ceylonese executive councils explained

This is a list of Ceylonese executive councils from its inception on 13 March 1833 until the creation of the Board of Ministers in 1931.

The Executive Council created in British Ceylon by the British colonial administration on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission along with the Legislative Council of Ceylon as the legislative body.

At its creation the Executive Council was headed by the Governor, along with five members appointed by the Governor. These five members were officials who held the posts of the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Auditor-General, the Treasurer and the General Officer Commanding, Ceylon. The Council exercised executive power and advised the governor. As a result of the First Manning Reforms three non-officials were elected to the executive council.

Executive Councils

DateMonarchHead of GovernmentExecutive Council
1833 William IV
(1833-1837)
Queen Victoria
(1837-1837)
Wilmot-Horton executive council of Ceylon
1837 Stewart-Mackenzie executive council of Ceylon
1841 Campbell executive council of Ceylon
1847 Torrington executive council of Ceylon
1850 George William Anderson executive council of Ceylon
1855 Ward executive council of Ceylon
1860 MacCarthy executive council of Ceylon
1865 Robinson executive council of Ceylon
1872 Gregory executive council of Ceylon
1877 Longden executive council of Ceylon
1883 Hamilton-Gordon executive council of Ceylon
1890 Havelock executive council of Ceylon
1896 Queen Victoria
(1896-1901)
Edward VII
(1901-1903)
Ridgeway executive council of Ceylon
1903 Blake executive council of Ceylon
1907 Edward VII
(1907-1910)
George V
(1910-1913)
McCallum executive council of Ceylon
1913 Chalmers executive council of Ceylon
1916 John Anderson executive council of Ceylon
1918 Manning executive council of Ceylon
1925 Clifford executive council of Ceylon
1928 Stanley executive council of Ceylon
1931 Thomson executive council of Ceylon
Board of Ministers of Ceylon (1931-1947)
1931 First Board of Ministers of Ceylon
1936 Guy Stanley Wodeman (1940–42)
Robert Drayton (1942-?)
Second Board of Ministers of Ceylon

Dissolution

With enactment of the new constitution of the Dominion of Ceylon in 1947 the Board of Ministers was replaced by a National Cabinet.

See also