Death of former CB Governor Deshamanya A.S. Jayawardena

Former Central Bank Governor and renowned economist Deshamanya A.S.Jayawardena passed away yesterday. He was 81.

Amarananda Somasiri Jayawardena held the post of Governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka for nine years from 1995.

He was the 10th Governor of the Central Bank. He was also held the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury and an Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.

Jayawardena received his primary education at St. Agnes Convent, Matale, St Thomas College, Matale and completed his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo where he won the Henry De Mel Prize for Sinhala.

Thereafter, he read Economics at the University of Ceylon,Peradeniya winning Colours of Athletics and graduating with a B A Special Degree in Economics. He gained a Master’s Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1964 and a Master of Public Administration Degree from Harvard University in 1975. Jayawardena joined the Central Bank of Ceylon as a Junior Executive and was promoted as Senior Economist Grade 2 in 1963. He held the post of General Manager of Bank of Ceylon and a Director of the Lands Reforms Commission.

He held various positions in a number of public institutions during his career spanning over four decades. His remains lie at his residence at 891, Nelum Mawatha, Subadra Road Nugegoda and funeral will take place at General Cemetery, Borella on June 01 at 4 p.m. Cortege leaves home at 3 p.m.