-By LeN legal correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -24.July.2025, 11.00 PM) Sri Lanka’s Constitutional Council has unanimously approved the appointment of Justice Preethi Padman Surasena as the nation’s next Chief Justice, following a formal nomination by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake earlier this week.
Justice Surasena, currently the most senior judge on the Supreme Court bench, is set to succeed Chief Justice Jayantha M. P. Fernando, who is due to retire on July 27, concluding a tenure marked by key constitutional rulings and high-profile judgments.
The Council, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, convened today to consider the President’s recommendation. According to parliamentary sources, the decision was taken with unanimous consent, reflecting broad cross-party support for Justice Surasena’s elevation.
Justice Surasena brings to the role decades of experience on the bench and a reputation for legal acumen and integrity. Having previously served as a Commissioner of the Judicial Service Commission, he has presided over numerous landmark Supreme Court cases in recent years.
He also held the position of Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee that investigated serious allegations against the now-suspended Inspector General of Police, Deshabandu Tennakoon — a role in which he earned praise for conducting a meticulous and impartial inquiry.
Legal observers note that his appointment comes at a crucial juncture for Sri Lanka’s judiciary, as it continues to navigate challenges relating to constitutional reform, public trust in judicial independence, and the prosecution of complex corruption cases.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) issued a brief statement congratulating Justice Surasena, hailing his “depth of legal knowledge, calm temperament, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law.”
Senior Attorney Ruwan Samarasekara, a former Solicitor General, said: “Justice Surasena commands the respect of the bench and bar alike. His judgments are thoughtful and well reasoned. At a time when the judiciary is under intense public scrutiny, his leadership will be vital.”
Outgoing Chief Justice Fernando’s retirement on July 27 will mark the end of a tenure that has spanned several pivotal moments in Sri Lanka’s recent legal and political history — including the constitutional standoff of 2023 and landmark decisions on electoral reform.
Justice Surasena is expected to be formally sworn in by the President on or shortly after that date, taking the helm of a judiciary facing renewed pressure to assert its independence amidst growing public demand for transparency and accountability.
Observers say that Surasena’s immediate priorities are likely to include:
• Judicial reform aimed at reducing case backlogs;
• Enhancing judicial training and ethics enforcement;
• Steering the Supreme Court through expected constitutional litigation, including potential challenges to new economic and governance legislation.
“He is known for his quiet authority and principled stance on judicial independence,” said a retired Supreme Court justice. “That’s exactly what the Court — and the country — needs right now.”
As Sri Lanka enters yet another critical phase of political and legal reform, all eyes will be on Justice Surasena and how he steers the judiciary in what many see as a defining era for the nation’s democratic institutions.
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by (2025-07-24 18:03:30)
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