2.10.2008
Sunil C. Perera in Colombo
Kingsley T. Wickramaratne Ex- Governor of the Southern Province
passes away at a private hospital , in Colombo a shortwhile
ago.He was a powerful minister during the Chandrika Bandaranayake
regime. He was also Advisor on International Trade to the
President of Sri Lanka Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranike
Kumaratunge. He assumed duties from 1st February 2002.
He served as the minister of Internal and International
Commerce and Food in the Sri Lanka Government Cabinet of
President Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
From 1994 to Aoguest 2000. Seventeen(17) departments/ Corporations,
in trade, Commerce and Food sectors of the country came
within the purview of his Ministry. By virtue of this key
ministerial portfolio and his expertise, he was actively
involved in cabinet Committees to foster International Trade
and Investment, Industrial infrastructure and Socio-Economic
Development. he was elected as a member of Parliament for
the District in 1989 and served as a Parliamentarian up
to August 2000.
He has led Trade Mission to the United Kindom,Russia,United
States, People's republic of China, Iran, Egupt, Italy,
New Republic of Yugoslavia, australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan,
Maldives,India, Nepal, thailand, Chile,Sweden, Germany,
Portugal and UAE. He also led Sri Lanka's delegation to
the SAARC commerce Ministers meeting in India in 1995-2000
and to the WTO meetings from its inception in singapore.
As advisor on international Trade he was specializes on
matters related to W.T.O.He was educated at Wesley college,
Colombo. He was a fellow of the British Institute of Management(UK).
He was the First Sri lankan to be admitted to the Young
President's Organization USA. He was a founder member of
the institute of Markrting, the institute of Packing and
the International Advertising Association(SL - Chapter).His
professional career has been as a Management and Markrting
Consultant. He became the first Sri Lankan to be elected
as Executive Vice President, Junior Chamber International
and sixty four (64) countries, came under his jurisdiction.
He has traveled widely. As CEO and JCI Senator he has been
invited to lecture on business Management, Advertising and
Marketing.
Before enterring Parliament he was private Sector Entrepreneur.
He Had been the Chirman of the serendib Group of Hotels
and of the Wicks Group of Companies. He also served on the
Board of Directors of several leading companies in Sri Lanka.
Twenty six years ago in 1975, he presented a comprehensive
paper on " One Economy - One Market - One world "
at the JCI World Congress in Nice France which was vigorously
debated by represtatives of eghty- four(84) countries. He
also the author of the book Tomorrow's Economics.
His politicalaffiliation with SLFP ( Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike's
Party) began in 1974.
He was electe4d as Assistant Secretary of the SLFP in 1978.
In 1983 he was appointed as Treasurer. in 2001 he was elected
as the Senior Vice president of the Sri lanka Freedom Party.
He is a family man, married to Helen. They have three daughters. |