Sanath Rathnayake Weerakoon, is a Sri Lankan former government agent. He served as the government agent (district secretary) for the District of

Colombo Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo m ...

(1990–1999), Sri Lanka, and is considered one of the most distinguished and respected officers in the

Sri Lankan Administrative Service The Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) ( Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා පරිපාලන සේවය; śrī laṁkā paripālana sēvaya) is the key administrative service of the Government of Sri Lanka, with civil servants worki ...

. He served 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 ( si, පුත්තලම, translit=Puttalama; ta, புத்தளம், translit=Puttaḷam) is the largest town in Puttalam District, North Western Province, Sri Lanka. Puttalam is the administrative capital of the Puttalam Di ...

in 1978. The government agent is the administrative had 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 he successfully completed the H.S.C. (Higher School Certificate). He was ranked 40th from the country and entered the

University of Ceylon The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka (earlier Ceylon) 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 Unive ...

in 1959. At the age of 22, he graduated from the

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 ( Sinhala තංගල්ල , ta, தங்கல்லை) (also known as Tangalla) is a large town in Hambantota District, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is one of the largest towns in southern provinc ...

Maha Vidyalaya. Weerakoon completed his postgraduate studies at The Hague University in

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, the

University of Hawaii A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

in United States and 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 30,000 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 The Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) ( Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා පරිපාලන සේවය; śrī laṁkā paripālana sēvaya) is the key administrative service of the Government of Sri Lanka, with civil servants workin ...

. 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 a number of private-sector firms, corporations, boards and 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 were born to Don Johannes Rathnayake Weerakoon and Dona Rosalind Moonesinghe. Sanath's Grandparents were Don Nicholas Rathnayake Weerakoon & Dona Abeysekeara Pathiranalage Gimara. Sanath Weerakoon married Asoka Palihena in 1972 and they have three children: Thushani, Dushan and Janake.

External links

The 6th International Workshop for ECO ASIA Long-term Perspective Project

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20110812184239/http://www.treasury.gov.lk/FPPFM/ped/pdfdoc/ceylonceramicscorporation/cccar2002.pdf Ceylon Ceramics CorporationChairman’s Report – 2002
Colombo Plan International Society Office Bearers – 2008/2009

Colombo Plan International Society Office Bearers – 2009

* ttp://www.island.lk/2004/06/28/news02.html Red Cross Probe headed by GA Colombo
Communicating with Policymakers about Population and Health Conference

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20090101055731/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/12/29/news39.asp New UDA Chairman - Daily News 29 Dec 2008
Golf at Waters Edge was good? Now they are telling us

Government Information Centre

Ministry of Urban Development Contacts

UDA at battle - Sunday Leader

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weerakoon, Sanath Living people Sri Lankan Buddhists Alumni of the University of Ceylon University of Hawaiʻi alumni 1941 births Sinhalese civil servants The Hague University of Applied Sciences alumni