Ronnie de Mel

Ronnie de Mel was a prominent Sri Lankan politician and economist, best known for his role as the Minister of Finance during the 1977-1978 period under President J.R. Jayewardene. He is credited with implementing significant economic reforms that transitioned Sri Lanka from a closed economy to a liberalized market economy, which included the removal of import restrictions and the introduction of free-market principles. His budget proposals during this time were often controversial but laid the groundwork for Sri Lanka's economic policies in subsequent decades.