Bar bids farewell to CJ

SARATH Malalasekera

The Official and Unofficial Bar yesterday bid farewell to Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva PC, who is due to retire from June 7, 2009, after delivering the judgement in two Fundamental Rights cases against the privatisation of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.

Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga read out the 80-page judgement for over nearly three hours. Associated on the Bench were Chief Justice Silva and Justice K. Sripavan.

Deputy Solicitor General Bimba Jayasinghe Tillekeratne from the Official Bar and President's Counsel Romesh de Silva of the Unofficial Bar paid tribute to the Chief Justice.

The Deputy Solicitor General said that a great significant era, where the judiciary of the country was given due place among the hallowed institution, is ending.

The influence of the Judiciary was felt far and wide across the country where the common man was made aware that he can approach the judiciary for Justice without hinderance and that he need not suffer in silence.

It was an era where the powerful and the mighty were made aware that they are also subject to the laws of the country, where the protection and conservation of environment could received the required attention it was crying for.

Senior and Junior Attorneys-at-Law and the public were in the packed Court House to hear the Sri Lanka Insurance Limited case judgement yesterday.