Archives

Former Secretary to the President K.H.J. Wijedasa has been appointed Advisor on sustainable policy development and implementation to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

His functions include the formulation of a National Food Policy and overseeing its implementation through an inter-Ministerial Committee headed by him and the development of policies on sustainable development.

The Prime Minister will also assign him from time to time certain other areas for formulation of policy.

Born on January 24, 1936 in Gangodawila, Nugegoda-Wijedasa received his primary education at Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya. He entered Peradeniya University where he received a BA honours degree in Geography in 1959. Later, he received a Post Graduate Diploma in Economic Development from Oxford University and a Certificate in Higher Management from the Royal Institute of Public Management. He was an assistant lecturer for a short time till he entered the Ceylon Administrative Service.

Having served as a cadet at General Treasury, Department of Census and Statistics and Anuradhapura Kachcheri, in 1960 young Wijedasa was appointed the Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Education. In 1962, he was appointed Director of Broadcasting of Radio Ceylon.

Wijedasa was appointed Additional Government Agent of Ampara in 1967 and in the same year, made the Government Agent of Anuradhapura. In 1972 under the Sirima Bandaranaike administration, he was the Director of Agricultural Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. In 1975, he was made the Additional Secretary to the same Ministry. He also was the Chairman of the Land Reforms Commission and Janatha Estates Development Board.

In 1978, under the Jayewardene administration, he was the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Local Governments, Housing and Construction which he held till he was appointed Secretary to Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1984. Wijedasa was appointed Secretary to President Premadasa in 1989 and after President Premadasa's death, was the Secretary to President D.B. Wijetunga till 1994.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager