Minister of Finance (Sri Lanka)

The Minister of Finance (මුදල්, ආර්ථික ස්ථායිකරණ සහ ජාතික ප්‍රතිපත්ති අමාත්‍ය; நிதி, பொருளாதார நிலைப்படுத்தல் மற்றும் தேசிய கொள்கைகள் அமைச்சர்) is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. The post was created in 1947 when Ceylon gained independence as Sri Lanka.

History
The position of Treasurer of Ceylon of the British Government of Ceylon dates back to the early nineteenth century and was succeeded by the post of Financial Secretary of Ceylon under the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission. The post of Ministry of Finance and the Treasury of Ceylon was established in 1947 under the recommendations of the Soulbury Commission under the Ceylon Independence Act, 1947 and The Ceylon (Constitution and Independence) Orders in Council 1947. A young J.R Jayawardena, became the first Minister of Finance of independence Ceylon. Over time the Ministry took over the policy planning which it currently undertakes.

Beginning 4 April 2022, Ali Sabry was appointed as the new minister, replacing Basil Rajapaksa (brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) in the position; However, due to the worsening of the financial crisis, Sabry tendered his resignation 5 April 2022, having served only a day in office; However, Sabry later decided to continue serving in the capacity of finance minister.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed finance minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Upon assuming the Presidency himself, Wickremesinghe remained Finance Minister.

List of Finance Ministers
(10) (9) (1) (3)
 * Parties

List of Parliamentary secretaries

 * Herbert Eric Jansz 17.05.1948 10.09.1950
 * Louis Lucien Hunter	20.09.1950	02.04.1952
 * Louis Lucien Hunter	02.06.1952	29.04.1953
 * M. D. H. Jayawardena	19.10.1953	01.07.1954
 * U. B. Wanninayake	01.07.1954	27.04.1955
 * Chandradasa Wijesinghe	25.04.1956	10.09.1958
 * Nimal Karunatilake	18.11.1958	19.05.1959
 * Meeralebbe Poddy Mohamed Mustapha	25.06.1959	22.11.1959
 * Dayasena Pasqual   22.11.1959      05.12.1959
 * George Rajapaksa	29.07.1960	20.06.1962
 * R. S. V. Poulier	28.08.1962	06.05.1963
 * Mudiyanse Tennakoon	30.05.1963	12.03.1964
 * James Peter Obeyesekere III	22.06.1964	17.12.1964
 * Noel Wimalasena	29.03.1965	25.03.1970

Deputy ministers

 * Neal de Alwis	01.10.1975	04.02.1977
 * Festus Perera	23.07.1977	05.02.1978
 * M. H. M. Naina Marikar	06.02.1978	19.01.1988
 * John Amaratunga 19.01.1988	09.01.1989
 * Harold Herath	18.02.1989	28.03.1999
 * Harold Herath	30.03.1990	15.08.1994
 * Jeyaraj Fernandopulle	01.09.1994	12.11.1994
 * G. L. Peiris	24.11.1994	09.08.2000
 * G. L. Peiris	16.08.2000	10.10.2000
 * G. L. Peiris	25.11.2000	13.09.2001
 * S. B. Dissanayake	25.11.2000	13.09.2001
 * Mangala Samaraweera	14.09.2001	07.12.2001
 * Bandula Gunawardane	12.12.2001	07.02.2004
 * Ranjith Siyambalapitiya	14.04.2004	26.04.2010
 * Sarath Amunugama	17.01.2009	26.04.2010
 * Chandrasiri Gajadeera	27.04.2010	21.11.2010
 * Sarath Amunugama	10.05.2010	21.11.2010
 * Gitanjana Gunawardena	26.11.2010 - 2015
 * Ajith Nivard Cabraal 2020 - 2021