Basil executes reshuffle of heads at key State institutions

•  Ketagoda named SLIC Chairman; Theshara to replace Koswatte at Litro
• Outgoing SLIC Chairman Wellewatte to  fill the post of SL’s High Commissioner to Australia
• Koswatte expected to take over as NHDA Chairman

Former MP Jayantha Ketagoda and National Youth Services Council Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe have been appointed as the new Chairmen of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) and Litro Gas Lanka Limited. 

The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Sajith Attygalle confirmed to Mirror Business that letters of appointment had already been sent to Ketagoda and Jayasinghe. Ketagoda last week gave up his parliamentary seat to make way for Basil Rajapaksa to enter parliament and to become the new Finance Minister of Gotabaya Rajapaksa government. 

Although, some government sources said Ketegoda had rejected the offer, Attygalle noted that the Finance Ministry hadn’t received a formal response from Ketagoda declining the appointment. 

Jayasinghe is expected to shortly take over as the new Chairman of State-owned Litro Gas, which commands over 70 percent of the country’s LPG market. 

He holds a Masters degree in Financial Economics and Business Studies from the University of Colombo and previously worked as HSBC Country Head of Procurement and Payments for Sri Lanka & Maldives before being appointed as the Chairman of National Youth Services Council in late 2019, when the current government came to power. 

He was also a founding member of Viyathmaga and Ekathuva Youth Movement.

Meanwhile, outgoing Litro Gas Chairman Anil Koswatte is expected to take over as National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) Chairman, while the outgoing SLIC Chairman Jagath Wellawatte is expected to fill the post of Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia. 

Further, highly placed government sources said the new Finance Minister is keen on having a new Central Bank Governor.