ASG Fernando appointed President's Counsel

Sarath Malalasekera

COLOMBO: Additional Solicitor General Sarath Palitha Fernando will take oaths as President's Counsel on May 25.

Palitha is an old student of the Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka Law College, University of Colombo and University of Bristol, UK.

ASG Fernando, while in college led the English and Sinhala debating teams, and held the posts of Chairman and General Secretary of the English and Sinhala Literary Associations.

He was awarded the prize for Commercial for securing the highest marks for the subjects at the final examination of the Sri Lanka Law College's Hector Jayawardane Gold medal for the first place at the address to the Jury contest in English, the S.R. Wijetilake Challenge Shield for the first place at the address to the Jury in Sinhala, the A. C. de Zoysa Challenge Shield for the first place at the extempore speech competition in English. He has also served as the president of the Law Students' Union.

ASG Fernando took oaths as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on June 21, 1979. He joined the Attorney General's Department in February 1980 as an acting State Counsel and was appointed as Senior State Counsel in 1989 as the Deputy Solicitor General in 1997 and later Additional Solicitor General from January 2007.

Joined the Volunteer Force of the Sri Lanka Navy, as a Commander in 1989 ASG Fernando was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1993 and Commodore in 1999. He served as the Judge Advocate of the Sri Lanka Navy till 2004.

He is a member of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, National Child Protection Authority, Council of the University of Moratuwa, Forensic Studies of the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, life member of the Medico Legal Society, Governors of the Sri Lanka Youth Council and Honorary Legal Advisor to the Sri Lanka Cricket Umpires' Association.

ASG Palitha Fernando had represented the Attorney General in a number of important cases such as Hokandara murder case. This is the first case in which DNA evidence was led in Sri Lanka, the defamation case by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga against Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga. Udathalawinna case against former Minister General Anuruddha Ratwatta and his two sons, Attorney Wijedasa Liyanarachchi case.