C.A. Coorey
Encyclopedia
Deshamanya
Chandana Aelian Coorey, SLAS (March 18, 1921 - ) was a Sri Lanka
n civil servant. He was the former Permanent Secretary
of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury.
to Dr Henry Coorey and his wife Pussethi, he was the youngest of four brothers; Gerry H. Coorey, later Professor of Pathology, Clarrie O. Coorey later member of the Indian Civil Service and Lloyd R.Coorey a Proprietary Planter. Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
, where he won the many prizes including the Turnour Prize
and the de Soysa Science Prize. He won a scholarship at the University College, Colombo in 1939. There he read natural philosophy, and graduated First Class degree in Chemistry in 1943 from the University of London
winning the gold medal, and was selected for a government scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford
. However due to World War II
he could not travel to Oxford.
when he was accepted to the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service
in 1945. After serving as a civil service cadet, he was appointed in 1946 as an Assistant Government Agent, Kalmunai and served in many other capacities including that of Government Agent
. In early 1970 he transferred to the Treasury and became the Deputy Secretary and later Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary to the Ministry of Finance in 1971. It was the most senior civil service post at the time. During his tenor, he introduced a program budgeting in the preparation of the estimates, whereby the programme of expenditure was published by every government department. He held to post till 1975 and retired from the Sri Lankan Administrative Service.
, founder Chairman of the National Development Bank (1979–1989) and Chairman of the Development and Finance Corporation of Ceylon (1990–1999). In 1992 he was awarded the title of Deshamanya
by the government of Sri Lanaka.
He was married to his wife Lakshmi and had three children Dilrukshi, Anura and Sharmini. The Deshamanya C.A. Coorey Memorial Prize is awarded annually at the Royal College Colombo
in his memory.
Deshamanya
Deshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
Chandana Aelian Coorey, SLAS (March 18, 1921 - ) was a Sri Lanka
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 civil servant. He was the former 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.
Early life and education
Born in PanaduraPanadura
- History :The historic debate 'Panadura Vadaya' was held in this place which is a milestone of the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the initiative of the ven. Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera.- People and Culture :Panadura is home to about 100,000 citizens...
to Dr Henry Coorey and his wife Pussethi, he was the youngest of four brothers; Gerry H. Coorey, later Professor of Pathology, Clarrie O. Coorey later member of the Indian Civil Service and Lloyd R.Coorey a Proprietary Planter. Educated 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 many prizes including the Turnour Prize
Turnour Prize
The Turnour Prize is the oldest of the panel prizes at Royal College Colombo. It is one of the most prestigious prizes and honour awarded to a student of Royal College, the oldest public school in the country. Awarded annually to the best student in performance in academics. First awarded in 1846...
and the de Soysa Science Prize. He won a scholarship at the University College, Colombo in 1939. There he read natural philosophy, and graduated First Class degree in Chemistry in 1943 from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
winning the gold medal, and was selected for a government scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. However due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he could not travel to Oxford.
Career
He was appointed as an Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry however left the University of CeylonUniversity of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
when he was accepted to the prestigious Ceylon Civil Service
Ceylon Civil Service
The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, originated as the elite civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule in 1833 and carried on after independence, until May 1, 1963 when it was abolished and the much larger Ceylon Administrative Service was...
in 1945. After serving as a civil service cadet, he was appointed in 1946 as an Assistant Government Agent, Kalmunai and served in many other capacities including that of Government Agent
Government Agent
A function called Government Agent exist or existed in the past in several countries, such as* Sri Lanka - see Government Agent * Canada - see Government Agent...
. In early 1970 he transferred to the Treasury and became the Deputy Secretary and later Secretary of the Treasury and Secretary to the Ministry of Finance in 1971. It was the most senior civil service post at the time. During his tenor, he introduced a program budgeting in the preparation of the estimates, whereby the programme of expenditure was published by every government department. He held to post till 1975 and retired from the Sri Lankan Administrative Service.
Later life
He went on to become an Executive Director for Sri Lanka, Laos, and Afghanistan on the Board of Governors of the Asian Development BankAsian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
, founder Chairman of the National Development Bank (1979–1989) and Chairman of the Development and Finance Corporation of Ceylon (1990–1999). In 1992 he was awarded the title of Deshamanya
Deshamanya
Deshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
by the government of Sri Lanaka.
He was married to his wife Lakshmi and had three children Dilrukshi, Anura and Sharmini. The Deshamanya C.A. Coorey Memorial Prize is awarded annually at the 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...
in his memory.