Many feathers in Justice Tilakawardena's cap
Sarath Malalasekera
Justice Shirani Tilakawardena was the first woman to be appointed as
an Appeal Court judge, newly elected president of the Retired Judges
Association, Justice Nimal E Dissanayake said.
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Justice Shirani Tilakawardena |
He was introducing Justice Tilakawardena, who was the chief guest and
the guest speaker at the Retired Judges Association annual general
meeting.
Justice Dissanayake also said that Justice Tilakawardena was the
first woman counsel to be appointed to the Attorney General's Department
as a State Counsel.
"The Attorney General's Department was essentially a place that was
preserved for men in the good old days," he said.
"After a successful carrier in the Attorney General's Department,
Justice Tilakawardena was appointed High Court judge in 1988. She was
the first female High Court judge to be appointed. I believe she was in
the prime of her youth then," Justice Dissanayake said.
Justice Dissanayake said that he had the good fortune of working with
Justice Tilakawardena when he was transferred to Colombo as a High Court
judge in 1995.
"By this time Justice Tilakawardena, being the most Senior High Court
Judge in the country, was presiding as High Court judge of Court number
one in Colombo. The post of High Court number one carries with it in
addition to hearing cases, the functions administration of finance of
courts of the entire Colombo district. The functions of administration
of the staff of all five High Courts of Colombo too comes within the
said judges purview," he said.
"After a successful career in the High Court she was appointed a
judge of the Court of Appeal. She was the first woman to be appointed as
a judge of the Court of Appeal. I believe in 1998 in the Court of Appeal
too I had the opportunity of working with Justice Tilakawardena. Later
Justice Tilakawardena took her rightful place in the Supreme Court,"
Justice Dissanayake said.
Justice Tilakawardena addressed the august assembly on the 'Forensic
and Legal Aspects of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya Murder Trial.' |
