Law College bids farewell to its Principal
 

by Sarath Malalasekera

Sri Lanka Law College Principal Dr. Joe Silva is an excellent human being.

He is sincere and honest always been dedicated to his work. He is capable and efficient, said Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC, at a ceremony held at the law College premises to bid farewell to Principal Dr. Joe Silva, who has served as Principal of the Sri Lanka Law College for over ten years.

This ceremony was also held to make awards to mark the outstanding achievements of the law students.

The Principal is the academic and administrative Head of Sri Lanka Law College, whilst the overall guidance and control comes from the Council of Legal Education, of which the Chief Justice is the Chairman.

The Chief Justice said "I was not a member of the Council of Legal Education when Dr. Joe Silva was appointed as Principal in June 1995. Shortly thereafter I became a member of the Council and had the opportunity of working closely with Dr. Joe Silva in the Council, as Attorney General and as Chief Justice."

'As Chairman of the Council of Legal Education we developed a relationship on the following lines- Dr. Joe Silva was given the highest degree of discretion to carry out work that had been planned in advance without the slightest degree of interference on my part.

The underlying theme has been "you do the work to the best of your ability, take the credit for it and if something goes wrong I will take the responsibility. Fortunately, very little went wrong and that too we have been able to get over without much difficulty. This marks the rectitude and efficiency of Dr. Joe Silva,' the Chief Justice emphasised.

The Chief Justice said Dr. Joe Silva's great contribution was to instil a firm sense of discipline amongst students. Dr. Silva took over at a time when there was a serious deterioration of discipline amongst the students at other Institutions of higher learning. None of that indiscipline permeated this Institution. "We have never had to close down the Institution or even, cancel a single lecture because of student indiscipline. No slogans have been written on the walls and nothing has even been broken or damaged.

Dr. Joe Silva took over this Institution was to state very briefly, decaying. Judicial institutions could just survive and decay without serving the needs and aspirations of our people. Fortunately, it is not the management style of Dr. Silva and of myself, to allow institutions just to survive and decay. "In that joint spirit we took on the ambitions task of rehabilitating these buildings which together with the other colonial buildings of the Hultsdorp judicial complex were crumbling at that time," the Chief Justice added.

The Chief Justice emphasised that "We started the project literally without a cent in hand for that purpose.

Through an excellent programme of financial management done entirely by Dr. Joe Silva, we have been able to complete the programme of refurbishment and rehabilitation costing over Rs.22 million. Today these buildings and the other buildings in Hultsdorp are in an excellent state, well equipped and functional.

"I have stated all this to show our deep sense of gratitude to the yeoman service rendered by Dr. Joe Silva, it is now our task to carry on the good work and to make this Institution one that is fully responsive to the needs of our time and the aspirations of our people." We sincerely wish Dr. Joe Silva good health and a successful career in future," the Chief Justice said.