Mr. Esala Ruwan Weerakoon

Esala Ruwan Weerakoon was the 14th Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) from March 2020 till September 2023. He has also served as the Senior Additional Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka and the Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka.

His 35-year diplomatic career includes serving as High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Norway. He held key positions as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC, Charge d’ Affaires in Tokyo, Deputy High Commissioner in London and Deputy High Commissioner in Canberra. He has served in Sri Lanka Missions in France, Malaysia and Seychelles and in various capacities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Director General of Economic Affairs and Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Division.

Mr Weerakoon also served the Government of Sri Lanka as the Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Samurdhi and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development. In appreciation of his long-standing support and dedication towards improving the lives of children and youth in South Asia, Mr Weerakoon was presented the UNICEF Award “Responding Today for Tomorrow” in Kathmandu in February 2023.

He is a Board Member of the India – Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF), Member of the Board of Directors of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) and a Founding Member of the Sri Lanka – Maldives Friendship Association.

He received his primary and secondary education at St.Thomas College, St Michael’s College, Batticaloa and Royal College, Colombo and read for an honours degree in Economics at the University of Kelaniya and completed his postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics.