Sir Arthur Ranasinghe (1954 – 1959)

Sir Arthur Godwin Ranasinghe was the third Governor, assuming duties in October 1954 and vacating his position in June 1959. 

Sir Arthur Ranasinghe was educated at St. Thomas’ College Colombo and Trinity Hall Cambridge. In 1917 he was a Ceylon University Scholar. He obtained a BA Honours Degree in History (London). After facing the Indian Civil Service open examination in 1920 he began his career in the Ceylon Civil Service in 1921.  

Sir Ranasinghe was regarded as an eminent public servant and held several key positions in the public sector of the country. He served as Magistrate in Point Pedro, Balapitya and Jaffna from 1923 to 1928 and District Judge in Avissawella (1928-1930) and Badulla (1930-1932). He was Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Lands (1933-1936) and was Public Trustee for eight years (1936-1944) as well as Custodian of Enemy Property (1939-1944). He held the post of Superintendent of Census from 1944-1946 and was Land Commissioner from 1946-1947. His experience in the public sector and as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (1947-1950), Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary to the Cabinet from 1950 – 1954,  added to his experience in being appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank, a position he held for five years. After his service in the Central Bank, he served as Ambassador to Italy and Greece from 1959 to 1961. 

He was awarded the Knight Grand Cross (1954) and the Order of Merit in appreciation of his services.