Dr. W Rasaputram (1979 – 1988)

Dr. Warnasena Rasaputram was the seventh Governor, assuming duties in February 1979 and vacating his position in November 1988.

Dr. Rasaputram studied at Ananda College Colombo and was an honours graduate of the University of Ceylon. With a Degree in Economics specialising in Statistics, he was one of the first graduates to be recruited under the direct recruitment programme of the Central Bank in 1951. Several years later he was able to pursue his post graduate education with a Smith-Mundt Scholarship and a subsequent Fullbright grant. As a result, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Statistics and PhD in Economics from the University of Wisconsin. 

He was appointed Director of the Economic Research Department in 1968. For several years since 1971, he was released from the Central Bank to work with a number of international organisations such as the ILO and United Nations. Dr. Rasaputram became Assistant to the Governor in 1974, becoming Deputy Governor shortly thereafter, in 1975. 

Dr. Rasaputram functioned as the Alternate Executive Director for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1976 to 1979, after which he became the Governor of the Central Bank. His leadership and guidance to the bank and the economy came at a critical time for the Sri Lankan economy as the country moved from a closed economic policy to an open economic policy. Under his leadership, the Central Bank began its decentralisation process by setting up regional offices. 

After relinquishing his duties as Governor in 1988, he proceeded to function in several key positions of the Foreign Service. He was Sri Lankan Ambassador to France and then the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia. He was also a Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva and Vienna.  He also held several high positions in international organisations.