New appeal court Judge takes oaths

KALUTARA: Kalutara High Court Judge Sarath de Abrew, 53, took his oaths as a Court of Appeal Judge before President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently. Justice Abrew, an old Thomian entered the Bar after a stint of apprenticeship under the late A.C. de Zoysa PC ((Bunty).

He took up appointment as a State Counsel of the Attorney-General's Department in 1979. He was the youngest Judicial officer to serve Judiciary when he was appointed Trincomalee Magistrate at the age of 28, on January 28, 1982.

He was transferred as the Magistrate of Panadura and later promoted as a District Judge in 1987. During the bleak years of 1987 to 1989 when terrorism was at its peak in Tangalle, he was serving there as the District Judge. Justice Abrew was the Galle Chief Magistrate from 1990 to 1995.

Before his appointment as a High Court Judge in 1999, he had served as the Mount Lavinia Magistrate and Moratuwa District Judge.

He has served as the High Court Judge of Colombo, Kandy, Ampara, Hambantota and Kalutara and pronounced judgements in 730 cases.

He was a former President of the Judicial Services Association.