Sunday Times 2
RKW: Now an inspiring presence at the Law Library
View(s):By Joshua Surendraraj
Chief Justice Sripavan unveiling the bust of the late R.K.W. Goonesekera
A humble legal academic, loved by his students: An eminent counsel respected by his colleagues, the late Deshamanya R.K.W. Goonesekera was considered a legend in the legal sphere. His demise in November, 2014 left a void that is still being felt by many in the legal profession.
The bust of the late Mr. Goonesekera was unveiled at the Colombo Law Library on Wednesday by Chief Justice K. Sripavan. Present at the event were Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, Bar Association President Geoffrey Alagaratnam and Law Society Secretary Kalinga Indatissa, Colombo University’s former Vice Chancellor Savithri Goonesekera, the late lawyer’s widow, and several other distinguished lawyers.
Mr. Goonesekera was born on May 8, 1928 and received his education at Royal College, Colombo. He obtained an LLB from the University of Ceylon in 1954 and joined the bar as an advocate. In 1956 he obtained BCL from the University of Oxford. Thereafter he began his illustrious legal career.
In his speech, Chief Justice Sripavan described Mr. Goonesekera as “a profound scholar, a distinguished member of the legal profession, a gentleman par excellence, a citizen with integrity and an advocate of human rights.”
The Chief Justice said Mr. Goonesekera was one of the rare people, who served the legal community in numerous ways. “I had the privilege of being a student of his at the Sri Lanka Law College,” he recalled.
He said the late legal luminary was an inspiring teacher who was well known for his ability to explain in simple terms complex legal concepts and judicial decisions.
“We have heard the many tributes paid to Mr. Goonesekera for his enormous contributions made to uplift the lives of law students, during his tenure at the Law College. He was idolised by his students as an inspiring and intellectually stimulating teacher,” the Chief Justice said.
Savithri Goonesekera addressing the gathering
President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa said Mr. Goonesekera made a significant contribution in defending and preserving the rights of the people.
“The contribution made by him in my humble view is unparalleled in the annals of the history of our profession. He was a gentleman who fought for the civil liberties of the people in this country. In 1993, Mr. Goonesekera was instrumental in presenting the commission report on media freedom. He was a champion of human rights. He was fondly referred to by his contemporaries and his students, as the teacher of teachers,” he said.
Bar Association President Geoffrey Alagaratnam said the greatest tribute one could pay Mr. Goonesekera was to emulate him in his good work to enrich Sri Lanka’s legal culture and tradition.Mr. Alagaratnam explained that Mr. Goonesekera was not merely a great lawyer with a brilliant legal mind; he was also a jurist of exceptional calibre. “His writings are many; he was a great teacher, which he demonstrated in his teaching career, both at the faculty of law at the University of Peradeniya and as principal of the Law College.”
Referring to him as a sincere human being, whose thoughts were fundamentally and conceptually sound, Mr. Alagaratnam said, “It is on occasions like these that we remember and perpetuate our legends for the guidance of all of us, especially the junior members of our profession.”
Recalling how Mr. Goonesekera conducted himself in court, the BASL head said, “To him however much he was provoked in court, his response was dignified.”
“In a controversial case the counsel on the opposite side had attempted to belittle the arguments of Mr. Goonesekera with words to the effect that they should be ‘flushed down the drain’. However, Mr. Goonesekera’s dignified response, which prevented any comeback, was “however unmerited the grieving may seem, such a suggestion was unbecoming of the dignity of the profession and that he was quite shocked and surprised that a counsel of such seniority would dare to make such unbecoming submissions.”
“The matter ended there to the embarrassment of all,” Mr. Alagaratnam said. “R.K.W had the last say.”
The distinguished inviteees at the event. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe