The removal of Sri Lanka Railways General Manager Dhammika Jayasundara marks yet another high-profile exit under Minister Bimal Ratnayake’s leadership. With multiple resignations and dismissals in recent months, questions mount over what’s driving the leadership turnover in one of the government’s most turbulent ministries.
The Cabinet has approved the removal of Dhammika Jayasundara from his post as General Manager of Railways at the Sri Lanka Railways Department, following a proposal by Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake. Cabinet Media Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that K. Ravindra Pathmapriya, a Special Service Officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and current Director General of the Information Technology Management Department at the Ministry of Finance, will be appointed to the vacant role of Joint Director of Railways. Pathmapriya is expected to be placed in a suitable position within the Special Grade of the Sri Lanka Engineering Service.
Deputy Minister of Transport Prasanna Gunasena explained that Jayasundara’s removal was due to recurring administrative issues and difficulties in improving operational efficiency. “There were a lot of administrative problems that kept arising, and there were challenges in enhancing performance. That’s why we decided to remove him,” he said.
Jayasundara, an electrical engineering graduate from the University of Moratuwa, began his public service career in 2000. He was first appointed as General Manager of Railways in 2021 after scoring highest among applicants. From 2022, he served as Director General of the Ministry of Transport for two and a half years before returning as General Manager in December 2024. When asked about his removal, Jayasundara’s response was brief: “I have nothing to say. You decide whether I did anything or not. That’s all.”
The Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation has seen the highest number of resignations or removals of top officials compared to other ministries since the current government took office. Several of these departures involved individuals appointed under the present administration. Former Sri Lanka Transport Board Chairman Ramal Siriwardena resigned in January, citing personal reasons, and later contested the Gampaha Municipal Council elections for the National People’s Force. Former National Institute of Transport Medical Chairman Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni resigned in February, while Motor Vehicles Commissioner General Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasinghe stepped down in April before being arrested by the Bribery and Corruption Commission in connection with illegally registered vehicles.
Commenting on this wave of leadership changes, Deputy Minister Gunasena said that replacements were necessary due to operational shortcomings, policy challenges, and slow progress in achieving targets expected by the public. “We had problems in several institutions, including procurement and on-the-spot testing issues at the Transport Medical Unit. The RMV head was removed, and later arrested. It’s with such problems that removals occur,” he noted.
