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Law College’s new principal resigns citing personal reasons
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Justice P. A. Ratnayake
Former Supreme Court judge P. A. Ratnayake P.C has sent in his resignation as the Principal, Sri Lanka Law College, citing personal reasons just over a month after taking up the position. Justice Ratnayake told the Sunday Times that he sent his letter of resignation last Tursday to the Council of Legal Education (which makes the appointment), since he was involved in the maritime sector including work on Sri Lanka’s claim to the UN body governing the Law of the Sea, of an offshore territory.
The Council Council of Legal Education is chaired by Chief Justice Mohan Peiris P.C.“This is a full time job (as principal, Law College) and I cannot devote enough time to it,” Justice Ratnayake said.He said, within the past two months, several changes have been made at the Law College with procedures laid in place to ensure that there were no more allegations of wrong-doings at the College.
“A special examination division has been set up under a Director Examinations. There cannot be allegations of rigging of examinations in the future as there is a separate way of marking papers and examination papers can no longer be taken home for marking,” he said.
The Sri Lanka Law College has been rocked by controversy since November when its long standing Principal Dr. W.D. Rodrigo was sent on compulsory leave and asked to relinquish his position by December 31, last year, amidst allegations of wrong-doings. Subsequently, Mr.Rodrigo was appointed Legal Director of the Presidential Secretariat with effect from January 29 this year.
Meanwhile, Former Legal Draftsperson Therese Perera has been appointed as Vice Principal of the Law College. -C.K.