President condoles passing away of H.L. de Silva

President's Counsel H.L de Silva was a much sought after advisor to the Governments and Heads of State of Sri Lanka, and I shall personally miss his wise counsel on many a pressing issue, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a message of condolence on the death of H.L de Silva.

The President in a message of condolence said: "It is with a deep sense of grief that I send this message at the demise of President's Counsel H. L de Silva, a true legal luminary who has brought honour and distinction to his profession and unparalleled service to his country and nation.

His service in both the Official and Unofficial branches of the law will be remembered for the deep knowledge of the law, wide knowledge of courtroom practice, willingness to take up the most challenging of cases, and chart new trails in the administration of justice. Beginning his career 56 years ago, without the advantage of family or relations connected with the law, Herman Leonard de Silva rose to be an adornment to his profession and an asset to the nation.

He was ready to provide his legal acumen to issues that were crucial to the progress of the nation, and to areas of law that others had not dared venture into earlier.

In the fields of Civil and Constitutional Law, he was unsurpassed in his readiness to test the limits of the law, and with sagacity and great charm, achieving successes that became landmarks in the progress of the country.

In addition to his service in law he was also a distinguished diplomat who did Sri Lanka proud as the Permanent Representative at the United Nations, New York, where he earned high regard for knowledge of International Law; being notable for his erudition and lucidity in interventions and debates of the Legal Committee of the United Nations. He was also a member of the Sri Lanka delegation to the Thimpu Talks and the Peace Negotiations in Geneva under the present Government.

De Silva had the courage to take the brief of former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in daunting circumstance, in a case that dragged over several years. In the context of current developments in the country, he will be well remembered for his support of the application that saw the judicial rejection of the Post-Tsunami Operational Structure (P-TOMS) Agreement, and later his successful support of the Fundamental Rights application that saw the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, a landmark in the judicial history of Sri Lanka.

A kind and friendly personality, he was a respected past President and Honorary Member of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, a keen supporter of his old school, St. Peter's College, Colombo 4, and an active member of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka. President's Counsel H.L. de Silva has motivated the courts to embrace a more progressive jurisprudence from the 1970s. He has been a much sought after advisor to the Governments and Heads of State of Sri Lanka, and I shall personally miss his wise counsel on many a pressing issue. With his extensive practice in the Appellate Court he has the well earned reputation as a true lawyers' lawyer.

I take this occasion to extend my deepest sympathies to his bereaved wife Manel, daughters Nilmini and Lakmali, and others near and dear to him, greatly saddened by his loss. May his soul Rest in Peace.