The launch of the Commemorative Volume of the Selected Essays in Economic Policy of the late N. U. Jayawardena ‘Remembering a Legacy’ took place in Colombo last week in the presence of Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.

The venue also became the meeting point to register the divergent economic policies of Sri Lanka when reflecting the memories of Jayewardena indicating that he was a strong advocate of a vibrant private sector in Sri Lanka ‘Economic Sovereignty and private sector’ while the Prime Minister sharply deviated from this principle. Mr Wickramanayake indicated that “N U Jayawardena’s economic outlook may have differed from that of the government I represent. I say may have, because I do not really know; perhaps he would have been on the same wave length with the government today”.

But the Prime Minister did concede and suggested that the country desperately needed such economic free thinkers like NU to handle the government’s massive efforts to develop the country. Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy, Director of Economic Affairs, The Commonwealth Secretariat said that Jayawardena was a remarkable man and truly inspirational. He contributed to the country’s economy before and after independence.

He said that NUJ’s contributions to achieve economic sovereignty to have a vibrant private sector was immense and it was NUJ’s firm belief that a private sector driven economy would bring prosperity to Sri Lanka. He said that N.U. Jayawardena also contributed to the public sector by being a senior government servant and also headed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as its first Sri Lankan Governor.

Jayampathi Bandaranayake, Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said that N.U. Jayawardena is a legend in the contemporary economic history of Sri Lanka with his ambitions and exceptional ability. He created new enterprises and in the late 1980s became the first Chairman of Sampath Bank. W A Wijewardena, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka deputized for the Central Bank Governor. Dr P. B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Treasury, was also accommodated at the head table. Minister Milinda Moragoda, N. U. Jayawardena’s grandson, was present in the audience among other distinguished guests.