Sharvananda funeral today in Sydney

Ananth PALAKIDNAR

COLOMBO: Former Chief Justice Desamanya Suppiah Sharvananda passed away at the age of 83 in Sydney, Australia on Wednesday.

Sharvananda was the first Tamil to be appointed as the Chief Justice in 1984 and served in that position for four years until his retirement in 1988.

He was born in Kayts, Jaffna on February 22, 1923. His father was a Village Headman. After completing his early education at St. Anthony's English School in Kayts, he continued his higher education at the prestigious Jaffna Hindu College from grade six as a hosteller.

Later he entered the Colombo Law College and passed out as an advocate in 1946. While he was at the Law College he gained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of London.

As an Advocate he was apprenticed under late Dr. H. W. Thambiah QC, S. J. V. Selvanayagam QC, and H. V. Perera QC.

He had an extensive practice in the civil cases prior to his appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court in 1974. It was with reluctance he accepted the higher judicial appointment and succeeded Neville Samarakoon QC as the Chief Justice in 1984.

As a judge of the Supreme Court Sharva's judgements were considered as landmark judgements. It was during his period as the Chief Justice the 13th Amendment was agreed upon by the Supreme Court.

It was after his retirement as Chief Justice in 1988, he was appointed as the first Governor of the Western Province. He held this position from 1988 to 1994.

In 2001 Sharvananda was appointed as the Chairman of the Presidential Truth Commission on ethnic violence between the period of 1981 and 1984, by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge.

Sharvananda at his final ceremonial sitting as Chief Justice on February 21, 1988 reiterated that a respected and independent judiciary and a respected and strong bar were indispensable if we want to maintain our system of freedom under law.

He said: "Human failure of a few individuals cannot be equated to the failure of a system.The contribution of the judicial system towards the evolution of an orderly society is a fact of history.Rule of law is essentially linked with the judicial system.

"The court symbolises the rule of law and nothing should be done to erode the respect which people have for the institution. "A judge should not worry over criticism.Quest for certitude should not be substituted for the quest of justice.Law making is an inherent and inevitable part of the judicial process."

His last rites will take place in Sydney, Australia today.

Hindu educational society condoles

COLOMBO: The Hindu Educational Society of Colombo in a condolence message says:

"We were grieved to hear of the demise of former Chief Justice S. Sharvananda in Australia, Chief Justice Sharvananda was a member of the Hindu Educational Society for many years and he has also held the office of the President of Hindu Educational Society during the year 1994.

He was an outstanding legal luminary and he was the first Tamil to adorn the office of the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, and the only Hindu who had the honour of holding that office in Sri Lanka.

Justice Sharvananda took an active interest in Hindu religious affairs and he has also contributed valuable articles on religious subjects. His article on Saiva Siddantha to a World Conference was commended by everyone.

The loss of justice Sharvananda is an irreparable loss to the Hindus. We convey our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Sharvananda and the other family members of Justice Sharvananda".