• Late Mr. de Mel was the longest serving finance minister in  the country

Ronald Joseph Godfrey De Mel or Ronnie de Mel who was instrumental in  introducing the open economy in Sri Lanka in 1978 passed away at the  age of 98 yesterday.   

He introduced the open economy in Sri Lanka as the Finance  Minister under the guidance of late President J. R. Jayewardene’s  cabinet in 1977.   

Late Mr. de Mel was the longest serving finance minister in  the country and one who has presented the most number of budgets from 1977  to 1987.   

He began politics, by joining the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) and then joined the United National Party (UNP).