President J. R. Jayewardene Spouse Mallika Lakshmi de Mel Role Sri Lankan Politician | Name Ronnie Mel Nationality Sri Lankan | |
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Prime Minister Ranasinghe PremadasaJ. R. Jayewardene Succeeded by M. H. M. Naina Marikkar Education University of Ceylon, S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia | ||
Ronald Joseph Godfrey de Mel, CCS (Sinhala: රොනි ද මැල්) (known as Ronnie de Mel) is a Sri Lankan politician, Born: 11 April 1925. civil servant and Senior Adviser to President. He was Cabinet Minister of Finance from 1977 to 1988 United National Party governmrnt and was instrumental in the establishment of the free market economy in Sri Lanka. He was a Member of Parliament from the Matara District in the Parliament of Sri Lanka until 2004.
He studied at the St Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia and graduated from the University of Ceylon. He joined the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) serving in many capacities before entering into politics after his retirement.
Ronnie de Mel presided over a most significant period of Sri Lankan history, under the leadership and guidance of President J. R. Jayewardene. "If not the free market economy we would still be having scarcities, queues and we would be struggling like North Korea today. It was because of this change that everything in this country blossomed and developed." He was instrumental in raising funds for projects such as Victoria, Randenigala, Kotmale, Ports, Roads, Housing and Free Trade Zones The minister also tried his utmost to curb the July 83 riots
He married Mallika Lakshmi de Mel née Fernando, daughter of Sir Leo Fernando.