Minister of Finance of Sri Lanka

History

The position of 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. 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.

Beginning 4 April 2022, Ali Sabry was appointed as the new minister, replacing Basil Rajapaksa (brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) in the position. However, due to the worsening of the Sri Lankan economic crisis (2019–2024), Sabry tendered his resignation 5 April 2022, having served only a day in office. However, Sabry later decided to continue serving in the capacity of finance minister.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed finance minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Upon assuming the presidency himself, Wickremesinghe remained finance minister.

List of officeholders

Finance ministers

Parties

United National Party (10)

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (9)

Lanka Sama Samaja Party (1)

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (3)

National People's Power (1)

Parliamentary secretaries

Herbert Eric Jansz 17.05.1948 10.09.1950

Louis Lucien Hunter 20.09.1950 02.04.1952

Louis Lucien Hunter 02.06.1952 29.04.1953

M. D. H. Jayawardena 19.10.1953 01.07.1954

U. B. Wanninayake 01.07.1954 27.04.1955

Chandradasa Wijesinghe 25.04.1956 10.09.1958

Nimal Karunatilake 18.11.1958 19.05.1959

Meeralebbe Poddy Mohamed Mustapha 25.06.1959 22.11.1959

Dayasena Pasqual 22.11.1959 05.12.1959

George Rajapaksa 29.07.1960 20.06.1962

R. S. V. Poulier 28.08.1962 06.05.1963

Mudiyanse Tennakoon 30.05.1963 12.03.1964

James Peter Obeyesekere III 22.06.1964 17.12.1964

Noel Wimalasena 29.03.1965 25.03.1970

Deputy ministers

Neal de Alwis 01.10.1975 04.02.1977

Festus Perera 23.07.1977 05.02.1978

M. H. M. Naina Marikar 06.02.1978 19.01.1988

John Amaratunga 19.01.1988 09.01.1989

Harold Herath 18.02.1989 28.03.1999

Harold Herath 30.03.1990 15.08.1994

Jeyaraj Fernandopulle 01.09.1994 12.11.1994

G. L. Peiris 24.11.1994 09.08.2000

G. L. Peiris 16.08.2000 10.10.2000

G. L. Peiris 25.11.2000 13.09.2001

S. B. Dissanayake 25.11.2000 13.09.2001

Mangala Samaraweera 14.09.2001 07.12.2001

Bandula Gunawardane 12.12.2001 07.02.2004

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya 14.04.2004 26.04.2010

Sarath Amunugama 17.01.2009 26.04.2010

Chandrasiri Gajadeera 27.04.2010 21.11.2010

Sarath Amunugama 10.05.2010 21.11.2010

Gitanjana Gunawardena 26.11.2010 - 2015

Ajith Nivard Cabraal 2020 - 2021