Glamour and glitter at Voetlights

The 97th meeting of the Voetlights Society was held on Friday, December 15, at the Waters' Edge, Battaramulla. The event was attended by the largest ever gathering of members of the Voetlights Society, numbering over 800.

Looked forward to by the legal fraternity including judges as well as members of the official and unofficial Bar, it is an occasion which promotes camaraderie amongst the legal fraternity, who take time off at the end of the term to share some lighter moments at the Bar.

The society was founded when ten members of the Junior Bar sat down for dinner at the Bristol Hotel, Colombo on May 10, 1899. Little did they realise that the society that they were founding would last long after their time, and develop into something unique in the legal profession, anywhere in the world.

Some of the past presidents of the society have been B.W.Bawa K.C, E.W. Jayawardene K.C, A.E. Keuneman K.C, E.F.N Gratiaen K.C, C.Thiagalingam Q.C, E.B.Wikramanayake Q.C, E.G. Wikramanayake Q.C, V. Navaratnerajah Q.C, G.T.Samarawickrema Q.C, Vernon Wijetunga Q.C, S.J. Kadirgamar Q.C, Eric Amarasinghe P.C, N.D.M. Samarakoon Q.C, B.J. Fernando P.C and J.E.P. Deraniyagala P.C.

One of the most illustrious positions in the Society is that of the Scribe, and this position has been held by individuals such as E.H.T. Gunasekera, J.R. Jayewardene, H.W. Jayawardene Q.C, B.S.C. Ratwatte, A.C. de Zoysa P.C, P. Colin Thome, K.N. Choksy P.C, Max Bastiansz, S.A. Parathalingam P.C and Ronald Perera.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, P.C. graced the occasion as the Chief Guest whilst K.C Kamalasabayason, P.C. Attorney General, was the Guest of Honour. Nihal Jayamanne P.C., President Bar Association of Sri Lanka was the Guest Speaker.

The meeting was presided over by the President of the Voetlights Society 2006, Razik Zarook P.C. The Scribe of the Voetlights Society 2006 was Kushan D' Alwis, whilst the Baby of the Bar was Surein Gnanaraj.