President’s Counsel Daya Perera dies

Sarath Malalasekera

Senior President’s Counsel Daya Perera passed away yesterday after a brief illness in Colombo. Daya Perera took up duties at the Attorney General’s Department in 1966 and joined the unofficial Bar.

He took Slk in 1980. Perera took up duties on February 18 as the country’s representative to the UK at the age of 59.

He was one time Deputy President of the Sri Lanka Bar Association. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo and passed the intermediate examination in Science, University of London in 1949. He joined Colombo Law College and passed out as an Advocate in 1953.

He practiced for a short period at the Unofficial Bar and joined the Attorney General’s Department as Acting Crown Counsel in January 1956. He was subsequently confirmed in that post but obtained a release from the AG’s Department on two years no pay leave to raise the Legal Branch, Army Headquarters with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in CLP.

In 1965 Perera was overseas for specialized Training in Military Law and was attached to the Directorate of Army Legal Services, Stanmore, Middlesex.

He has won his rugby football colours at Royal College and also played for CR and FC and Havelocks.

He was the President of the Sinhalese Sports Club. His funeral will be held on Wednesday.