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by Sarath Malalasekera

Ratnapura - the city of gems has produced another 'gem' - this time to adorn the country's Defence portfolio. President's Counsel Tilak Marapana a product of the city of gems who was appointed Minister of Defence on Wednesday hails from a leading family of legal luminaries in Ratnapura.

Minister Marapana is an old boy of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. He obtained a Degree in Chemistry and Maths and a Law Degree before joining the Attorney General's Department as a Crown Counsel in 1968. He was appointed President's Counsel in 1998.

In 1990 the New Defence Minister was appointed Solicitor General and in 1992 he was appointed to the highest position in the Official Bar, as Attorney General.

Following the change of the UNP Government in 1994 Minister Marapana retired from the Attorney General's Post and reverted to the Unofficial Bar. During his private practice Mr. Marapana appeared in several important criminal cases. After a lucrative practice he was appointed Minister of Defence in Ranil Wickremesinghe's Cabinet on December 12.

Minister Marapana is the second son of former District Judge P. Marapana and Mrs. Marapana of Ratnapura and brother of President's Counsel Gamini Marapana.

Stella the wife of Minister Marapana, is the Deputy Principal of St. Joseph's Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda. Attorney at law Janaka, the eldest son of Tilak Marapana is a practising lawyer and his second son Chamitha is following in his father's footstep and is a student at the Law College.

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