Sanath Weerakoon

Sanath Weerakoon
Add. Private Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka
Assumed office
15 March 2016
Chairman - Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation
In office
20 May 2010 – 4 December 2015
Chairman - Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka
In office
24 December 2008 – 24 April 2010
Government Agent
In office
1 April 1990 – 1 November 1999
Personal details
Born Mahaheella, Beliatta Hambantota District, Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Spouse(s) Asoka Weerakoon
Children Thushani, Dushan and Janake
Residence Colombo
Alma mater University of Ceylon, The Hague University, University of Hawaii & UNAFEI ,T0KYO japan
Occupation Former'Government Agent & District Secretary of COLOMBO District ,Secretary to a Cabinet Ministry ,presently a Chairman of a Corporation
Profession Sri Lanka Administrative Service
Religion Buddhist

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 Add. Private Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka.

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 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 United States & at the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute (UNAFEI) in Japan.

Sri Lanka Administrative Service

Weerakoon passed the Ceylon Civil Service 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

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.

Government offices
Preceded by
{{{before}}}		 Government Agent of Colombo District
1990 – 1999 		Succeeded by
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Weerakoon, Sanath

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