Government / Administration

• At independence Ceylon followed the British system of government and the head of the government was the prime minister.
• With the reform of the constitution in 1978 a presidential system was adopted and as in France all executive powers were invested in the president who chooses his cabinet of ministers.
• The country is divided into provinces, which until a few years ago were centrally governed.
• With the introduction of a federal system the provinces have their own assemblies and government.
• Presidential elections take place every six years by the whole electorate all citizen over 18 years of age have the right to vote.
• Sri Lanka official name is; Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
• The capital and seat of the central government and parliament is no longer Colombo but Sri Jayewardenepura, earlier called Kotte, a small town at the outskirts of the former capital city Colombo.