5 October 2017 12:01 am
The newly appointed secretary to the Industry and Commerce Ministry is a Sri Lanka Administrative Service official, who also has a grasp on free trade agreements (FTAs) and fiscal policies, a press communiqué from the ministry said. “This ministry is a key institution of the economic reform and development vision of the government,” said Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday.
Bathiudeen was addressing the welcoming ceremony of the newly appointed Industry and Commerce Ministry Secretary K.D.N. Ranjit Ashoka.
“Our work is vast—from industries, SMEs, cooperatives, international commerce, private sector development to even retail markets and consumer protection. This ministry is a key institution of the economic reform and development vision of the government.
Therefore, the demands on our duties too are considerable. I am pleased that yet another experienced official joining us as secretary to take forward the good governance mandate of the unity government,” said Bathiudeen.
Ashoka joined Sri Lanka Administrative Service in 1990. In 1995, he joined the Finance Ministry becoming a Deputy Director (Fiscal Policy and Economic Affairs). He joined the Samurdhi Authority as Director Planning in 2007, after which he functioned as an Additional Secretary at the Education Ministry.
Thereafter, he was a Consultant to the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA), from where he rejoined the Finance Ministry as Director General of Trade and Investment Policy.
“I gained great experience on trade and free trade agreement work. I understood how to safeguard the domestic markets and develop our trade as well,” explained Ashoka.
He was thereafter appointed Director General of the Treasury Public Enterprises Department from this January, before finally moved to the Industry and Commerce Ministry on October 2, 2017.
“I am looking forward to working closely with Minister Bathiudeen and to support him in his wide role. Minister Bathiudeen and the ministry touch the lives of all Sri Lankans and I am looking forward to serving the public as per the good governance vision of our unity government,” said Ashoka.
Ashoka is a B.Com graduate (1986) from the Colombo University.