Ceylon Independence - 1948 The History of Peace: Sri Lanka National / Independence Day D.S. Senanayake became the first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka after we got the independence from the British in 1948. He emerged as the leader of the Sri Lankan independence movement that lead to the establishment of self-rule in Sri Lanka. The legal head of State was Queen Elizabeth’s governor at that time. The first President of Sri Lanka was William Gopallawa in 1972. This replaced the Governor’s role. Until