Justice Suresh Chandra, stalwart in legal sphere

Sarath MALALASEKERA

New Supreme Court Judge Justice Suresh Chandra had a varied and wide practice in both branches of the law in lower and appellate courts. Suresh Chandra was a consultant to the International Labour Organization and several other prestigious organizations and institutions, particularly in the field of the Labour Law and allied fields, said Bar Association of Sri Lanka President, President's Counsel Shibly Aziz at the ceremonial sitting held at the Supreme Court Complex to welcome the new Supreme Court Judge recently.

Justice Suresh Chandra was able to combine a robust academic career with all this carrying on lecturing in law and being an examiner for over 30 years at several leading institutions in the country including the Law College, the Open University and the Colombo University. The enduring and deep seated desire to teach and disseminate knowledge is with Justice Suresh Chandra since I am aware of the offer made by Justice Suresh Chandra to spend time with our very junior members and teach them the serious problem in our courts today, the BASL President said.

The BASL President emphasised that it is indeed a special day when we welcome Justice Suresh Chandra who until a few days ago was our fellow practitioner in these hallowed halls of justice.

He together with us travelled an arduous but challenging path on this side of the Bench. We take comfort and pride in saying that he was one of us, and also being able to offer to this court 'another private practitioner,' after the brilliant contribution of late Justice Mark Fernando.

Justice Suresh Chandra will bring into the deliberations of this court the wealth of experience in both the practical aspect of the law as well as the academic sphere.

The entire Bar welcomes Justice Suresh Chandra's appointment to this apex Court and has confidence that Justice Suresh Chandra will discharge its very onerous responsibilities with complete satisfaction to all. Justice Suresh Chandra has a very strong legal pedigree which will serve you in the task ahead.

The proud parentage of the late S.S. Rajaratnam, a foremost teacher of law, an Advocate and Law Lecturer, about whom many of us have pleasant memories.

Justice Suresh Chandra's mother Nirmala Rajaratnam nee Dias Sumanasekera would have been a tower of strength to your father until her premature demise.

Justice Suresh Chandra's sister and your late brother also stuck to the path of the law and made their individual contributions. You were fortunate to apprentice under our distinguished and respected former Chief Justice Sharvananda when he was a member of the Bar.

Thereafter you had the undoubted privilege, which I too shared though not at the same time, of being a junior to President's Counsel E.R.S.R. Coomaras-wamy, a redoubtable stalwart in both branches of the law and a great teacher and exponent of the law.

"I am personally aware of how much he relied on your services as a junior and also in your capacity of being an able exponent of the Sinhala language, the BAASL President added.

After commencing practice in 1972, Justice Suresh Chandra continued to be the private Bar until 2009, when Justice Suresh Chandra took up an International appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the Mission to the United States.