# Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies (Sinhala: මුදල්, ආර්ථික ස්ථායිකරණ සහ ජාතික ප්‍රතිපත්ති අමාත්‍යාංශය; Tamil: நிதி, பொருளாதார நிலைப்படுத்தல் மற்றும் தேசிய கொள்கைகள் அமைச்சு) (also known as the Finance Ministry or the Treasury) is a cabinet ministry of the Government of Sri Lanka responsible for developing and executing the government's public finance policy, economic policy and long term fiscal planning. The Treasury is housed at the General Treasury Building (also referred to as The Secretariat) in Fort.

## History

Although the post Treasurer of Ceylon of the British Government of Ceylon dates back to the early nineteenth century and was succeeded by the post of Financial Secretary of Ceylon under the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission. The post of Ministry of Finance and the Treasury of Ceylon was established in 1947 under the recommendations of the Soulbury Commission under the Ceylon Independence Act, 1947 and The Ceylon (Constitution and Independence) Orders in Council 1947. A young J.R Jayawardena, became the first Minister of Finance of independence Ceylon. Over time the Ministry took over the policy planning which it currently undertakes.

## Senior officials

* Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies - Ranil Wickremesinghe President
* Secretary to the Treasury - Mr. K M Mahinda Siriwardana

## Treasury departments

* Department of Project Management and Monitoring
* National Planning Department
* External Resources Department
* National Budget Department
* Public Enterprises Department
* Management Services Department
* Fiscal Policy Department
* Trade, Tariff & Investment Policy Department
* Development Finance Department
* Public Finance Department
* Legal Affairs Department
* Treasury Operations Department
* State Accounts Department
* Management Audit Department.
* Information Technology Management Department

## Secretary of the Treasury

The position of Secretary to the Treasury is rooted in the post of Financial Secretary of the colonial Government of Ceylon this itself originated from the post of Treasurer of the colonial government. Appointments were made from the members of the British Civil Service and later from the Ceylon Civil Service. It was one of three the key government colonial posts, the others being Colonial Secretary and Law Secretary. The post of Financial Secretary came second in the order precedence after Colonial Secretary or Chief Secretary as the post was known.
Following independence in 1947 and the official post of Secretary of Treasury, with appointment begin of grade of an Permanent Secretary and to the most senior member and head of the Ceylon Civil Service. Most appointments in the recent past have been for persons who have not been the career civil servants and the post is concurrently held with that of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.
* Sir Charles Ernest Jones, CMG, CCS (29.09.1947 – 12.12.1950)
* Theodore Duncan Perera, CMG, CCS (13.12.1950 – 12.03.1951)
* Sir Arthur Godwin Ranasinha, CMG, CBE, CCS (12.04.1951 – 13.10.1954)
* Leopold James Seneviratne, CCS (14.10.1954 – 14.08.1956)
* Samson Felix Amarasinghe, OBE, CCS (15.08.1956 – 31.05.1961 )
* Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe, CCS (01.06.1961 – 10.10.1963)
* H. E. Tennekoone, CCS (11.06.1963 – 18.12.1963)
* H J Samarakkody, CAS (19.12.1963 – 14.11.1968)
* M. Rajendra, CAS (15.11.1968 – 06.05.1971)
* C.A. Corray, SLAS (17.05.1971 – 01.07.1975)
* Dr. L R Jayewardena (16.07.1975 – 08.03.1978)
* Dr. W M Thilakeratne (28.03.1978 – 04.02.1987)
* B Mahadeva (05.02.1987 – 19.07.1987)
* C Chanmugam (20.07.1987 – 31.12.1988)
* R. Paskaralingam (04.01.1989 – 18.01.1994)
* N V K K Weragoda (19.01.1994 – 18.08.1994)
* A. S. Jayawardene (19.08.1994 – 07.11.1995)
* B C Perera (08.01.1996 – 31.01.1998)
* Dixon Nilaweera, SLAS (16.03.1998 – 01.11.1999)
* Dr. P.B. Jayasundera (01.11.1999 – 18.12.2001)
* J Charitha Ratwatte (19.12.2001 – 02.04.2004)
* Dr. P.B. Jayasundera (19.04.2004 – 17.09.2008)
* S Abeysinghe, SLAS (17.09.2008 – 2009)
* Dr. P.B. Jayasundera (2009 – 2015)
* Dr. R.H.S Samaratunga (2015 – 2019)
* S. R. Attygalle (2019 – )