W. Dayaratne for BASL presidency

Former Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) secretary Wagachige Dayaratne, attorney-at-law, has announced his candidature for election to the office of BASL president.

The BASL will hold elections early next year to decide the successor to the incumbent president. Mr. Dayaratne who entered the Bar in 1978, apprenticed in the chambers of President’s Counsel Tivanka Wickremasinghe. He will complete 30 years at the Bar in March next year.

Mr. Dayaratne was the BASL Secretary during the period 1997 and 1998. The majority he secured when he was elected Secretary was the highest in the history of BASL elections for the post of secretary. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee. He has served in this capacity during 10 terms.

He was also the Colombo Law Society president in 1989 and 1990, prior to which he held the positions of secretary and vice-president. The former BASL secretary said he hoped to give leadership to the Bar and to gear the legal profession to face the numerous challenges confronting the legal fraternity as well as difficulties encountered by junior lawyers. He said ensuring there was a strong, vibrant and independent association that will actively protect the rights of members was his primary concern.

He said he had always stood for the independence of the judiciary and had promoted rapport between the Bench and the Bar. He is an active practitioner in Colombo and in the outstations. He has authored a book ‘Neethi Wurthiyata Ath Welak’ especially to assist junior lawyers who served in his chambers on their entry into the profession.

Mr. Upul Jayasuriya, President of the Colombo Law Society has already announced his candidature for the BASL Presidency.