William Gopallawa.

 William Gopallawa was the last Governor General of Sri Lanka and the first non-executive President of Sri Lanka.  (Nominal Executive) He became President after Sri Lanka became a Republic in 1972 and is also known as an impartial and respected Head of State.

AD  Gopallawa won the Matale Municipal Council election in 1926 and served for 13 years.  He served as the Chairman of the Matale Municipal Council for five years and was also the youngest Chairman at that time.  Although the 1936 Matale election failed, William Gopallawa became the first Municipal Commissioner of the Kandy Municipal Council in 1939 after its formation.  He held that position throughout World War II.  Gopallawa served as the Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council in 1951 and resigned in 1957.

 On June 18, 1958, the SWRD Bandaranaike government appointed Ambassador to China when the Government of China established co-diplomatic relations.  And was re-elected Governor-General of Ceylon that year, holding the office of Governor-General until 1972, when he represented the Kingdom of Ceylon as the representative of the Queen of England.

 He was the second Governor General of Ceylon and the first Buddhist Governor General.  The appointments were made by Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.  The legislative decision to invite the United National Party, which won the largest number of parliamentary seats in the 1965 general election, was very significant.  Was also avoiding a major issue that could have arisen about leadership.

 When Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972, Gopallawa became its first President.  In February 1978, J.R.  Gopallawa resigns after Jayewardene becomes first executive president.