'''Niluka Ekanayake''' is a Sri Lankan [[politician]] and [[astrologer]]. She was appointed by [[President of Sri Lanka|President]] [[Maithripala Sirisena]] from 17 March 2016 to 11 April 2018 as the 10th [[Governor of Central Province]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20061224/issues.htm|title=When the President saw stars|newspaper=[[The Sunday Leader]]|date=24 December 2006|accessdateaccess-date=17 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608182858/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20061224/issues.htm|archive-date=8 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34584/niluka-ekanayake-sworn-in-as-cp-governor|title=Niluka Ekanayake sworn in as CP Governor|publisher=[[Ada Derana]]|date=17 March 2016|accessdateaccess-date=17 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2016/03/newly-appointed-central-province-governor-pays-homage-to-temple-of-the-sacred-tooth-relic/|title=Newly-appointed Central Province Governor pays homage to Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic|newspaper=News First Ltd|date=13 April 2016|accessdateaccess-date=20 April 2018}}</ref> She was also appointed as the 9th [[Governor of Sabaragamuwa Province]], [[Sri Lanka]] from 12 April 2018 to 31 December 2018.<ref name="sundaytimes">{{cite news|title=New Governors take oaths before President Sirisena|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1042054/new-governors-take-oaths-before-president-sirisena|accessdateaccess-date=12 April 2018|agency=The Sunday Times|publisher=sundaytimes.lk|date=12 April 2018}}</ref> In January 2019 she was appointed as the Chairman of the State Timber Corporation (STC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/Reginald-to-head-Gems-Jewelry-Authority-Niluka-to-head-STC/108-160898|title=Reginald to head Gems & Jewelry Authority, Niluka to head STC|website=Dailymirror.lk|accessdateaccess-date=2 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/news/52586/reginald-cooray-and-niluka-ekanayake-given-new-posts |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802134634/http://www.adaderana.lk/news/52586/reginald-cooray-and-niluka-ekanayake-given-new-posts |archive-date=2019-08-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2019/01/10/niluka-ekanayake-appointed-as-stc-chairman/|title=Niluka Ekanayake appointed as STC Chairman - Sri Lanka Latest News|date=January 10, 2019|website=Newsfirst.lk|accessdateaccess-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
She is the first [[LGBT]] person and the first [[transgender woman]] to hold the office of [[Provincial Governors of Sri Lanka|Governor in a Sri Lankan Province]], and is considered to be the first openly [[transgender]] [[List of openly LGBT heads of government|head of a government in the world]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Maha Sanga Protests Appointment Of First Transgender Governor|url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/maha-sanga-protests-appointment-of-first-transgender-governor/|accessdateaccess-date=12 April 2018|agency=Colombo Telegraph|publisher=colombotelegraph.com|date=26 March 2016}}</ref>
