Nation building possible only on foundation of law - Attorney General

Sarath Malalasekera

COLOMBO: There can be no nation building except upon a foundation of law, said New Attorney General C. R. de Silva, PC at a ceremony held to welcome the new Attorney General, new Solicitor General Priyasad Dep and to felicitate former Attorney General K. C. Kamalsabeyson PC at the Hotel Galadari on Saturday.

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC was the Chief Guest. Justice K. Sripavan, New Attorney General C. R. de Silva, former Attorney General K. C. Kamalasabeyson PC, new Solicitor General Priyasad Dep, Bar Association of Sri Lanka President Nihal Jayamanne, Colombo Law Society President Upul Jayasuriya were at the head table.

The ceremony was organised by the Colombo Law Society. Colombo Law Society Vice President Udaya R. de Silva was the chairman of the organising committee.

A colourful dance recital by the Regini Selvanayagam's group was presented at the intervals.

Attorney General C. R. de Silva said, "where access to justice is denied and there is no legal protection, there is no law and where there is no law, disorder, chaos and instability must be expected.

"As we gather this evening as members of the legal fraternity of this country, we must be mindful that the law is not self-enforcing, it needs lawyers to make it work, making the enforcement of rights conditional upon the financial ability to enforce them makes a plain mockery of the law. If all that a lawyer can tell his client is that he has a good case, but owing to his financial position the case cannot be taken to Court, nothing is gained."

De Silva emphasised that litigation is the sanction and therefore the cornerstone of the law. It is of no use to grant people rights if they can't enforce them.

"As the Attorney General and as an officer who served the office of the Attorney General for over three decades, I have always striven to ensure the speedy disposal of litigation.

I take this opportunity to assure you, that I will strive within my capacity as the Attorney General to ensure that there will be no undue delay in meeting out justice in matters which are within the control of the Attorney General's Department and I would discharge my responsibilities without any fear or favour, class, creed or financial status.

On an occasion of this nature, it is customary to take a walk down memory lane. I was brought up in a judicial environment and my father was a judge not only in Court but also at home. As the Attorney General, I am a part of the criminal justice system and I am called upon to play an important role in the preservation of law and order and the protection of the rule of law," he said.

Commenting on his predecessor, he said, "my predecessor in office President's Counsel K. C. Kamalasabeyson, my friend for over three and a half decades had the ability to transform a bad case into a good one. He always possessed a sweet temper and never lost his composure.

Saba as I would address him, was a tower of strength to the Attorney General's Department. He is a brilliant counsel and an equally brilliant administrator. Though I'm the beneficiary of his retirement I must frankly confess that his retirement is an irreparable loss to the department."

Judges of the Supreme Court, Judges of the Court of Appeal, District Court Judges, Magistrates, senior and junior members of the Official Bar and other legal bodies were among the gathering.