Career civil servant and former Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga yesterday assumed duties as the Finance Ministry Secretary.
Samaratunga replaces longserving Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, the influential Finance Ministry Secretary under former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.Samaratunga was previously the Secretary to the Petroleum Ministry and one-time Director at Bank of Ceylon.


Samaratunga holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Degree in Economics from the University of Peradeniya, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree i n Agriculture Economics from the University of WisconsinMadison, USA, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and also a Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.) from La Trobe University, Australia.



He has previously held senior positions in the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Among them are Director - Department of National Planning, Additional Director General - Department of Fiscal Policy and Economic Affairs and Director General - Department of Trade, Tariff and Investment Policy.