President's Counsel (postnominal PC) is a professional rank, as their status is conferred by the president, recognised by the courts and wear silk gowns of a special design. It is the equivalent of the rank of Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom, which was used in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) until 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic, at which time the position became the senior Attorneys-at-Law but in 1984 the position became the President's Counsel. The holder can use the post-nominal letters PC after his or her name.