Sanath Weerakoon
Encyclopedia
Sanath Rathnayake Weerakoon, is a Sri Lankan Former Government Agent. He served as the Government Agent
(District Secretary) for the District of Colombo
(1990–1999), Sri Lanka
and is considered to be one of the most distinguished and respected officers in the Sri Lankan Administrative Service. He serverd as the Government Agent of Colombo for 10 years under two different governments and is a feat that has not yet been broken. Weerakoon was also the youngest appointed Government Agent, to the District of Puttalam
in 1978. The Government Agent
is the Administrative Head of public services in the District. The post is one of the oldest in the civil service as it had been established by the British during the colonial era. Weerakoon is the current Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
In 1957, Weerakoon entered the Tellijawila Central College where successfully completed the H.S.C (Higher School Certificate). He was ranked 40th from the country and entered the University of Ceylon
in 1959.
At the age of 22, he graduated from the University of Ceylon
with Honours in Geography and was appointed as a Graduate Teacher in the same year. Later at the age of 25, Weerakoon was promoted as the Principal of Tangalle
Maha Vidyalaya.
Weerakoon completed his Post Graduate studies at The Hague University in Netherlands
, the University of Hawaii
in USA & at the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute (UNAFEI) in Japan.
entrance exam in 1967 when 30000 graduates sat this tough exam and only 70 were successful in passing. In the 1970s the Ceylon Civil Service was abolished and replaced with the Sri Lanka Administrative Service
. Weerakoon after 10 years of service in the SLAS, became a Class 1 SLAS Officer.
Weerakoon has since held number of senior positions in the SLAS and notably the below:
1978 - 1982 Government Agent for Puttalam District
1982 - 1982 Commissioner General of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services
1982 - 1986 Director General of the Sri Lanka School of Social Work
1986 - 1987 Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Security for Commercial & Industrial Establishments
1990 - 1999 Government Agent for Colombo District &
1990 - 1999 Additional Secretary to the Cabinet Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs
1999 - 2000 Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Ministry of Plantation Industries
Weerakoon has been a consultant, an advisor and chairman to number of private sector firms, Corporations, Boards & Commissions.
Some of which are as follows:
Chairman of the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Environmental Council of Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Vocational Council of Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Fair Trading Commission
Consultant to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
Sanath Weerakoon married Asoka Palihena in 1972 and they have 3 Children - Thushani, Dushan & Janake.
Government Agent (Sri Lanka)
A Government Agent or a District Secretary is a Sri Lankan civil servant of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service appointed by the central government to govern a certain district of the country. The GA is the administrative head of public services in the District. As Sri Lanka has 25 districts,...
(District Secretary) for the District of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
(1990–1999), 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...
and is considered to be one of the most distinguished and respected officers in the Sri Lankan Administrative Service. He serverd as the Government Agent of Colombo for 10 years under two different governments and is a feat that has not yet been broken. Weerakoon was also the youngest appointed Government Agent, to the District of Puttalam
Puttalam
Puttalam is the capital city of the Puttalam District in North Western Province, Sri Lanka.-History:The history of this dry zone dates back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya, nearly 2500 years ago, when his vessel washed ashore. The name "Puttalam" may be a modification of the Tamil word Uppuththalam...
in 1978. The 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...
is the Administrative Head of public services in the District. The post is one of the oldest in the civil service as it had been established by the British during the colonial era. Weerakoon is the current Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
Education
Weerakoon was educated at Weerakatiya Central School, where he passed the S.S.C (Senior School Certificate) in English Medium 1st Shy. Weerakoon was the only student to do so in Hambantota District in 1956.In 1957, Weerakoon entered the Tellijawila Central College where successfully completed the H.S.C (Higher School Certificate). He was ranked 40th from the country and entered the University of Ceylon
University 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...
in 1959.
At the age of 22, he graduated from the University of Ceylon
University 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...
with Honours in Geography and was appointed as a Graduate Teacher in the same year. Later at the age of 25, Weerakoon was promoted as the Principal of Tangalle
Tangalle
Tangalle is a town on the southern coast of Sri Lanka located in the Hambantota District. It has a mild climate, in comparison to the rest of the district, and sandy beaches....
Maha Vidyalaya.
Weerakoon completed his Post Graduate studies at The Hague University in Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
in USA & at the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute (UNAFEI) in Japan.
Sri Lanka Administrative Service
Weerakoon passed the Ceylon Civil ServiceCeylon 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...
entrance exam in 1967 when 30000 graduates sat this tough exam and only 70 were successful in passing. In the 1970s the Ceylon Civil Service was abolished and replaced with the Sri Lanka Administrative Service
Sri Lanka Administrative Service
The Sri Lanka Administrative Service is the key administrative service of the Government of Sri Lanka, with civil servants working for both in the Central Government as well as in the provincial councils. It was formed as the Ceylon Administrative Service in 1963 as the successor to the Ceylon...
. Weerakoon after 10 years of service in the SLAS, became a Class 1 SLAS Officer.
Weerakoon has since held number of senior positions in the SLAS and notably the below:
1978 - 1982 Government Agent for Puttalam District
1982 - 1982 Commissioner General of the Department of Probation and Child Care Services
1982 - 1986 Director General of the Sri Lanka School of Social Work
1986 - 1987 Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Security for Commercial & Industrial Establishments
1990 - 1999 Government Agent for Colombo District &
1990 - 1999 Additional Secretary to the Cabinet Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs
1999 - 2000 Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Ministry of Plantation Industries
Weerakoon has been a consultant, an advisor and chairman to number of private sector firms, Corporations, Boards & Commissions.
Some of which are as follows:
Chairman of the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Environmental Council of Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Vocational Council of Sri Lanka
Chairman of the Fair Trading Commission
Consultant to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
Family
Sanath is the Eldest son from 8 siblings who was born to Don Johannes Rathnayake Weerakoon and Dona Rosalind Munasinghe.Sanath Weerakoon married Asoka Palihena in 1972 and they have 3 Children - Thushani, Dushan & Janake.
External links
- The 6th International Workshop for ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project
- The 7th International Workshop for ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project
- Ceylon Ceramics CorporationChairman’s Report – 2002
- Colombo Plan International Society Office Bearers – 2008/2009
- 100,000 displaced says G.A Colombo
- Colombo Plan International Society Office Bearers – 2009
- Sanath Weerakoon, a Brilliant Administrator says Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake
- Red Cross Probe headed by GA Colombo
- Communicating with Policymakers about Population and Health Conference
- Sanath Weerakoon Appointed as Chairman of the UDA - The Island 27 Dec 2008
- New UDA Chairman - Daily News 29 Dec 2008
- Golf at Waters Edge was good? Now they are telling us
- UDA Chairman's Profile
- Government Information Centre
- Ministry of Urban Development Contacts
- UDA at battle - Sunday Leader
- Accelerated program to develop Sri Lanka's capital Colombo
- Development plan for the Municipal council of Galle
- Cashew Corporation Chairman falls from Cashew Tree
- Best Cashew in the World is in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation earning profits under new Chairman
- A New lease of life for Cashew Industry
- President Discusses Nagamu Purawara With Government Officials
- Accelerated program to develop Sri Lanka's capital Colombo