Niluka Ekanayake (Sinhala: නිලූකා ඒකනායක; Tamil: நிலுகா ஏகநாயக்க) is a Sri Lankan politician and astrologer. She was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena from 17 March 2016 to 11 April 2018 as the 10th Governor of Central Province.[1][2][3] She was also appointed as the 9th Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka from 12 April 2018 to 31 December 2018.[4] In January 2019 she was appointed as the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC).[5][6][7]
Niluka Ekanayake | |
|---|---|
| නිලූකා ඒකනායක நிலுகா ஏகநாயக்க | |
| Chairperson of the State Timber Corporation | |
| Assumed office 9 January 2019 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| 9th Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province | |
| In office 12 April 2018 – 31 December 2018 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | Marshal Perera |
| Succeeded by | Dhamma Dissanayake |
| 10th Governor of Central Province | |
| In office 17 March 2016 – 11 April 2018 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | Surangani Ellawala |
| Succeeded by | Reginald Cooray |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Occupation | politician and astrologer |
She is the first LGBTQ+ person and the first transgender woman to hold the office of Governor in a Sri Lankan Province, and is considered to be the first openly transgender head of a government in the world.[8]