Justice T A de S Wijesundera

Sarath Malalasekera

Former Supreme Court Judge T. A. De S. Wijesundera expired. His funeral took place on Saturday according to his last wishes.

Theodore Albert De Silva Wijesundera, and old boy of Nalanda College and Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda was born on April 21, 1920. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (Special) (Bsc) degree from the London University.

He became an Advocate on August 3, 1945 and later joined the Attorney General’s Department on September 23, 1950 as Temporary Additional Crown Counsel and acted as Crown Counsel from August 1, 1948 to September 22, 1950.

He was appointed as a Crown Counsel in October 1, 1951. From October 23, 1957 to September 30, 1958 he served as a Legal Assistant to Local Government and Cultural Affairs Ministry on secondment.

He was later appointed Commissioner of Assize in January 1, 1994 and later Chairman of Bribery and Corruption.

On September 1, 1974 he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court. In 1978 with the commencement of the New Constitution the Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts established under Adminstration of Justice Law (AJL) of 1973 ceased to hold office. Late Mr. Wijesundera, a devout Buddhist was a close friend of late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaraniake and former Justice Minister Felix Dias Bandarnaike.

Two of his daughters Colombo High Court Judge Deepali and Anurdhapura High Court Judge Menaka followed in their fathers footsteps.

Daughter Chitra Weeraratne is a respected journalist at The Island Newspaper. His son Prof Ravi is a Senior Professor of the Colombo University and his grand daughter Deshaki is a under graduate at the Katubedda University.