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<span class=prefix>Sir</span> Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke

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Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke Famous memorial

Birth
Trincomalee, Trincomalee District, Eastern, Sri Lanka
Death
17 Dec 1978 (aged 86)
Colombo, Colombo District, Western, Sri Lanka
Burial
Colombo, Colombo District, Western, Sri Lanka Add to Map
Memorial ID
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3rd Governor-General of Ceylon. He served as governor-general from 17 July 1954 to 2 March 1962. Prior to becoming governor-general, he studied at Wesley College in Colombo. He then became a teacher at Wesley College. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London. He then went to work at the Bank of Colombo as an accountant and later, became the manager of the Ceylon Daily News. In 1931 he became the first Ceylonese to be appointed as Colonial Auditor. At the same time, he was Chairman of the Salaries and Cadres Commission, Civil Defense Commissioner and Food Commissioner. In 1946 he became Financial Secretary of Ceylon and in 1947 he was made Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development and was appointed to the newly formed upper house of parliament, the Senate of Ceylon and became the Leader of the Senate marking the independence of Ceylon on 4 February 1948. He then became the first Ceylonese High Commissioner to the United Kingdom serving in London from 1948 to 1952. After another short stint as minister of finance, he was made governor-general. He is best remembered as the first Ceylonese individual to hold the vice-regal post.
3rd Governor-General of Ceylon. He served as governor-general from 17 July 1954 to 2 March 1962. Prior to becoming governor-general, he studied at Wesley College in Colombo. He then became a teacher at Wesley College. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London. He then went to work at the Bank of Colombo as an accountant and later, became the manager of the Ceylon Daily News. In 1931 he became the first Ceylonese to be appointed as Colonial Auditor. At the same time, he was Chairman of the Salaries and Cadres Commission, Civil Defense Commissioner and Food Commissioner. In 1946 he became Financial Secretary of Ceylon and in 1947 he was made Minister of Home Affairs and Rural Development and was appointed to the newly formed upper house of parliament, the Senate of Ceylon and became the Leader of the Senate marking the independence of Ceylon on 4 February 1948. He then became the first Ceylonese High Commissioner to the United Kingdom serving in London from 1948 to 1952. After another short stint as minister of finance, he was made governor-general. He is best remembered as the first Ceylonese individual to hold the vice-regal post.

Bio by: letemrip


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: letemrip
  • Added: Mar 2, 2021
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/223799576/oliver_ernest-goonetilleke: accessed ), memorial page for Sir Oliver Ernest Goonetilleke (20 Oct 1892–17 Dec 1978), Find a Grave Memorial ID 223799576, citing Borella Kanattha General Cemetery, Colombo, Colombo District, Western, Sri Lanka; Maintained by Find a Grave.