The United National Party has appointed Minister Sagala Ratnayaka as the Foreign Affairs Secretary of the party. 

Ratnayaka will now be in charge of coordinating international affairs of the party and strengthening party branches overseas. 

The appointment comes as part of the party's plans to strengthen its organizational structure before crucial national level elections this year. 

He is also the Chief of Staff of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in addition to his role as the Ports and Shipping and Southern Development Minister. 

An old boy of Royal College, Colombo, Ratnayaka received his tertiary education at the Lewis & Clark College in the US.

Having completed his degree in Business Administration, Ratnayaka chose a career in the banking sector. He was first elected to Parliament in 2000 from the Matara district and has represented Parliament for nearly 14 years.