A. S. Jayawardene
Encyclopedia
Amarananda Somasiri Jayawardena (born 1936) is a Sri Lanka
n economist and civil servant. He was the former Governor
of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
, the Permanent Secretary
of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury and an Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF).
he completed his secondary education at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
where he won the Henry De Mel Prize for Sinhala. Thereafter he read economics at the University of Colombo
, Peradeniya
winning Colours of Athletics and graduating with a B.A.
special degree in economics. Later he gained a Master’s Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics
in 1964 and a Master of Public Administration
Degree from Harvard University
in 1975.
's Economic Advisor and Director Planning. After returning to the Central Bank as Deputy Director Economic Research, he was appointed as the General Manager
of the Bank of Ceylon
. Thereafter he served in the Land Reforms Commission and as Director Settlements.
He returned to the Central Bank as Director Economic Research and was appointed as the International Monetary Fund
Executive Director for Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh based in Washington, from 1981 to 1986. In 1986 he return to the Central Bank as its Deputy Governor and was later appointed as he Secretary to the Ministry of Industries, Scientific Affairs. In 1994 he was appointed as Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon
and shortly took over as Secretary of the Treasury, a post he would hold until 1995. In 1998 he was appointed as Governor of the Central Bank which he held till retirement in 2004.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n economist and civil servant. He was the former Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Central Bank of Sri Lanka
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka is the monetary authority of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1950, two years after independence. The founder governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka was John Exter, while the minister of finance at the time was J.R...
, the Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury and an Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
(IMF).
Education
He received his primary education at St. Agnes Convent, Matale, thereafter at St Thomas' College, MataleSt Thomas' College, Matale
St. Thomas' College is a government secondary school for boys located in Matale, Sri Lanka.-Notable alumni:* Ranjith Wijekoon, hockey player, Sri Lanka National Team and Asia Hockey Team...
he completed his secondary education at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
where he won the Henry De Mel Prize for Sinhala. Thereafter he read economics at the University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
, Peradeniya
Peradeniya
Peradeniya is a town of about 50,000 inhabitants on the outskirts of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 main road connecting Kandy and Colombo, just a few kilometres west of Kandy....
winning Colours of Athletics and graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
special degree in economics. Later he gained a Master’s Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1964 and a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
Degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1975.
Career
In 1958 he joined the Central Bank of Ceylon as a Junior Executive and was promoted as Senior Economist Grade 2 in 1963. He served on secondment for two years in the Ministry of Plantation Industries as the Ministry Dr Colvin R. de SilvaColvin R. de Silva
Colvin R. de Silva was a former Cabinet Minister of Plantation Industries and Constitutional Affairs, prominent member of parliament, Trotskyist leader and lawyer in Sri Lanka. He was one of the founders of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party – the first Marxist party in Sri Lanka.-Personal...
's Economic Advisor and Director Planning. After returning to the Central Bank as Deputy Director Economic Research, he was appointed as the General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon is a government-owned, major commercial bank in Sri Lanka. Its head office is located in iconic cylindrical building in the capital Colombo, the political and commercial capital of the islandThe bank has a network of 308 branches and 200+ extension centers covering all parts of the...
. Thereafter he served in the Land Reforms Commission and as Director Settlements.
He returned to the Central Bank as Director Economic Research and was appointed as the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
Executive Director for Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh based in Washington, from 1981 to 1986. In 1986 he return to the Central Bank as its Deputy Governor and was later appointed as he Secretary to the Ministry of Industries, Scientific Affairs. In 1994 he was appointed as Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon
Bank of Ceylon is a government-owned, major commercial bank in Sri Lanka. Its head office is located in iconic cylindrical building in the capital Colombo, the political and commercial capital of the islandThe bank has a network of 308 branches and 200+ extension centers covering all parts of the...
and shortly took over as Secretary of the Treasury, a post he would hold until 1995. In 1998 he was appointed as Governor of the Central Bank which he held till retirement in 2004.