The Minister of Finance is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka. The post was created in 1947 with the Ceylon gaining independence and establishing self governess. The post has always been held by a senior member of the ruling party and in the recent years by the President with a deputy minster. The post has been known as Minister of Finance & Planning, when the portfolio includes national planning.
| Minister | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| J R Jayawardena | 1947–1953 | |
| M. D. H. Jayawardena | 1954–1956 | |
| Stanley de Zoysa | 1956–1959 | |
| Sir Oliver Goonetilleke | 1960 | Senator |
| M. M. Musthapa | 1959 - 1959 | |
| Felix Dias Bandaranaike | 1960–1962 | 1st term |
| C P D Silva | 1962 - 1962 | |
| P B G Kalugalle | 1962–1963 | |
| T. B. Ilangaratne | 1963–1964 | |
| Dr N. M. Perera | 1964 | 1st term |
| U.B. Wanninayake | 1965–1970 | |
| Dr N. M. Perera | 1970–1975 | 2nd term |
| Felix Dias Bandaranaike | 1975–1977 | 2nd term |
| Ronnie De Mel, CCS | 1977–1988 | |
| M.H.M Naina Marikkar | 1988–1989 | |
| D. B. Wijetunga | 1989–1994 | Prime Minister/President |
| Chandrika Kumaratunga | 1994–2001 | President |
| K. N. Choksy, PC, MP | 2001–2004 | |
| Dr Sarath Amunugama, MP, SLAS | 2004–2005 | |
| Mahinda Rajapaksa | 2005–Present | President |