By The Pulseline News Desk
Minister Bimal Ratnayake and Opposition MP Harsha de Silva have locked horns over the professional background of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s economic adviser, with Ratnayake accusing the opposition MP of making a false claim about the adviser’s links to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The dispute erupted in Parliament, after de Silva had questioned the Government’s decision to rely on President Dissanayake’s senior economic adviser Duminda Hulangamuwa, claiming that he had previously served as an economic adviser to Wickremesinghe.
De Silva has questioned why the National People’s Power (NPP) Government was relying on the same economic expert who had allegedly advised the previous administration, despite its criticism of Wickremesinghe’s economic policies.
Responding to the remarks, Ratnayake has categorically rejected the allegation, insisting that Hulangamuwa had never served as an economic adviser to Wickremesinghe or any previous president or prime minister.
The minister called on de Silva to withdraw or correct his statement, describing the claim as completely false.
Bimal challenges Harsha’s claim
Ratnayake has explained that Hulangamuwa had served on various committees during his tenure as chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. However, he has stressed that these engagements were connected to Hulangamuwa’s role in the business community and did not amount to an appointment as Wickremesinghe’s economic adviser.
According to Ratnayake, Hulangamuwa has accepted a formal economic advisory position only under the current NPP Government.
The minister’s response shifted the parliamentary exchange towards the distinction between professional engagements in business-sector committees and formal appointments to advise a president on economic affairs.
By demanding a correction, Ratnayake has challenged de Silva to substantiate his claim about Hulangamuwa’s previous role in the former administration.
Adviser at the centre of economic policy debate
Hulangamuwa was appointed senior adviser on economic affairs and finance to President Dissanayake with effect from September 24, 2024. He also serves as chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka.
His appointment places him in a key position as the Government seeks to attract investment, strengthen economic recovery and advance its policy agenda.
The confrontation also reflects the continuing political debate over the NPP Government’s economic direction and its criticism of the policies pursued under Wickremesinghe.
De Silva’s argument questioned the consistency of the Government’s approach to economic policymaking, while Ratnayake’s response focused on rejecting the claim that the President’s adviser had previously held the role attributed to him.
At the centre of the dispute is a question of professional background: whether Hulangamuwa’s earlier participation in committees through his business-sector leadership role can be characterised as serving as an economic adviser to the former President.
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