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Law College at 150: CJ hails its role in preserving people’s judicial power
View(s):By Ranjith Padmasiri
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday hailed the Law College as an institution that had continued to play a major role in the people’s judicial power.
“The silent service this institution has rendered over the past 150 years deserves rejoicing and celebration,” said the Chief Justice while addressing ‘a Back-to-Law College’ event coinciding with the celebrations to mark the anniversary.
“All of us, having gone through comparatively a short span of three years, remaining physically within the boundaries of our alma mater—SRI LANKA LAW COLLEGE—have thereafter taken our own paths, carrying forward with us the skills, knowledge and great culture inculcated during our time as law students. The different paths that are open to alumni are not limited to the judiciary and the legal profession—the two inalienable pillars of the administration of justice mechanism,” he said.
“Apart from its core responsibility of gifting society persons who have the capacity to take upon their shoulders the duty to ensure that the administration of justice mechanism would produce desired results, this great institution has produced persons who have demonstrated their capacities by taking on responsibilities in the executive as well as the legislative branches of the government. Such personalities include presidents, prime ministers, members of the Cabinet and people’s representatives in Parliament. The commercial, financial, banking, and education sectors also have immensely benefited from the contributions made by the alumni of Sri Lanka Law College.
“Our alma mater is the arm through which the Supreme Court discharges its statutory responsibility to admit and enrol persons of good repute and of competent knowledge and ability as Attorneys-at-Law. At the initial stages, the judges of the Supreme Court took upon themselves the responsibility of selecting persons suitable to admit as members of the legal profession,” he said.
The Chief Justice said that in 1873, the Council of Legal Education was established to take over the responsibility of directing the education of those who desired to become advocates.
He said the move paved the way for the establishment of Ceylon Law College, presently known as Sri Lanka Law College.
“Over this long journey of fifteen decades, the Council of Legal Education through the Law College has assisted the Supreme Court in its responsibility to admit members to the legal profession,” he added.
“What we are celebrating today are also the life stories of many great personalities who entered this building complex to discharge their respective duties. Duties that ultimately lead to dispensing justice to society.
“Judges as well as lawyers, whether they are from the official or the unofficial bar, come together and jointly take upon their shoulders the burden to give life to a temple—the temple of justice. At celebrations of this nature, it is our duty to acknowledge the invaluable service they have rendered, having gained their skills and knowledge through the Law College.”
Retired Supreme Court judge Buwaneka Aluwihare, President of the Alumni Association of the Law College, Principal Dr. Athula Pathinayake, Kuvera de Zoysa and Prasanna Lal de Alwis addressed the gathering.
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