 Wickremanayake held many ministerial positions in the Sri Lankan government, beginning in 1970.Wickremanayake was educated in Millewa Primary School, Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya, Hartley College, Point Pedro and Ananda College, Colombo and later as a student joined Lincoln's Inn to become a Barrister of Law, but ultimately chose to enter politics rather than appear for the exam.During his time in United Kingdom he was elected president of the Ceylon Students' Association in the United Kingdom in 1955.