Sri Lankan economist, academic and author Professor W.D. Lakshman has assumed duties as the new Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).

He received his letter of appointment at the Presidential Secretariat today (24) and officially assumed duties following a brief ceremony at the Central Bank, a short while ago.

Professor Lakshman takes over from former CBSL Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, who stepped down from his position on December 20 after tendering his resignation last month. 

Deshamanya Weligamage Don Lakshman was the former vice chancellor of University of Colombo from 1994 to 1999. 

He is one of the foremost and eminent Economist in the country who has contributed to various areas such as academics and administrative aspects. 

In recognition of his contribution to the field of education, he was honoured with Deshamanya title in 2005.

Prof. Lakshman is the 15th Governor of the Central Bank.

W. D. Lakshman received his post primary and secondary education at Vidyaloka Vidyalaya in Galle and entered the University of Ceylon at Peradeniya in 1960. 

He was awarded the University of Ceylon scholarship based on his performance at the University Preliminary Examination. He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economics specializing in Money and Banking – the subject specialization still considered as elite specialization in Economics. 

He was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Economics at the University of Colombo in January, 1965.

Prof. Lakshman preceded to the prestigious University of Oxford in the UK for his doctoral studies on a University Scholarship in 1968 and resumed work in 1973 having obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (D. Phil). 

Prof. Lakshman, while serving the University of Peradeniya as a Senior Lecturer in Economics, was appointed the Professor (Chair) of Economics in Colombo and the Head of the Department in the University of Colombo in October, 1982. Subsequently, he was promoted to the grade of Senior Professor in August 1992. 

Prof. Lakshman was appointed a Research Professor at the Faculty of Graduate Studies in March 1991 and subsequently he was appointed the Dean of the Faculty in September, 1991. 

was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the university of Colombo on 19/12/1994 and held this office with distinction up to end of March 1999, when he resigned from this position in order to take up a Visiting Professor assignment in a Japanese university.

The University of Colombo, in recognition and appreciation of the excellent services rendered by Prof. W. D. Lakshman to higher Education in particular and to the country in general, conferred on him the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) at the convocation of the University of Colombo in 2008.