Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Friday, 16 January 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Samarathunga who has obtained the B.A. (Honours) Degree in Economics from the University of Peradeniya joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1984. He has obtained his first post graduate degree from the Institute of Public Administration of Indraprasatha in New Delhi and the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the Masters of Science (MSC) from the University of Wisconsin, USA. Further, Samarathunga possesses a doctorate in Economics from La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Having joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1984, Dr. Samarathunga has served in the Department of National Planning which is under the purview of the Ministry of Finance and Planning for nearly 20 years and extended a tremendous contribution in formulation of economic policies as the planning Director (Macro Economics).
Later in 2005, he joined the Department of Trade and Investment Policy in 2007 and was promoted to the post of Deputy Secretary to the Treasury in 2008. Later, he was appointed as the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment in 2010 and served as the Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum Industries till he assumed duties in the new post.
In addition to the above posts, Dr. Samarathunga has served as a member of the Boards of Directors of around 20 public Institutions including the Ceylon Electricity Board, Bank of Ceylon, Insurance Board, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and the Export development Board.
Moreover Dr. Samarathunga has published a large number of scholarly articles on Economics and Fiscal Policies through various media and also has served as a visiting Lecturer of Economics in the Universities of Colombo, Moratuwa, Sri Jayewardenepura and Kelaniya.
