State Minister of Foreign Affairs

Hon. Tharaka Balasuriya was appointed as the State Minister of Foreign Affairs on 08 September, 2022.  A second term Parliamentarian, the Hon. State Minister was previously the State Minister for Regional Co-operation from 12 August 2020 to 9 May, 2022 and counts nearly a decade in politics, preceded by a career in the corporate sector.

State Minister Balasuriya was first elected to Parliament in 2015 and held the State Ministerial portfolio of Social Security following the establishment of the new Government in November 2019 and was the State Minister of Regional Cooperation until May 2022. Previously, he was a member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, to which he was elected in the year 2012.

Hon. Balasuriya also counts 15 years of corporate experience in the insurance and banking sectors, having ended his career as a the Head of Corporate Business at Sri Lanka’s largest insurance company prior to his entry into politics in 2012.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Wisconsin and has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Cardiff Metropolitan University. He had his primary education at the Colombo International School.

Born on 16 April, 1974 in Germany, he hails from a family of reputed politicians.  His father Dr. Jagath Balasuriya was a former Cabinet Minister and Governor of the North Central Province. While his mother, Kumari Balasuriya, served as the Governor of the Southern Province.  His grandfather P.B. Balasuriya served as a Parliamentarian. The Hon. State Minister is married to Malintha Bolonghe and has two young daughters.