Daya Perera:

An outspoken individual

Daya Perera, President's Counsel, passed away on June 16, 2013. His death leaves a vacuum in the Criminal Bar of Sri Lanka.

Perera was born in 1929 and had his early education at Royal College, Colombo. He excelled in sports and gained colours in Rugby - football. Perera was the scrum-half of the first Royal College team to win the Bradby Shield encounter against their arch rivals Trinity College, Kandy.

This was a fact that Perera cherished throughout his life and very often spoke very proudly of the fact that members of both teams commenced and continued a tradition of meeting up at Perera's residence, a day before the Colombo leg of the Bradby.

He used to speak of the discipline and the friendship between the members of the two teams which should be an example to the Rugby playing schools today.

After leaving school, Perera joined the Ceylon Law College and passed out as an advocate. He devilled in the Chambers of the late George Chitty Q.C., one of the most eminent criminal lawyers of all time.

After his initial years in the Chambers of Chitty, Perera joined the Attorney General's Department as a Crown Counsel. He was instrumental in many celebrated criminal prosecutions in the 1950s and 1960s. One of the most celebrated cases where he prosecuted at the non summery level is the Kalaththewa Murder Case.

While serving as a Crown Counsel, he was seconded to the Sri Lanka Army and was responsible for the establishment of the Legal Division of the Sri Lanka Army. He was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel and all his friends of his vintage used to address him as Colonel Perera.

He also functioned as the Deputy President of the BASL, Councillor of Law Asia, Vice President of Indo-Pacific Congress on Legal Medicine & Forensic Sciences and the President of the Medical Legal Society of Sri Lanka.

After reverting to the unofficial Bar, Perera was associated with every crucial criminal case in this country. He will always be remembered for his commanding and authoritative voice, precise and analytical mind and his sharpness in cross examination. There are many lessons that young lawyers of today can lean from the life of Perera.

He was appointed President's Counsel in 1981 in recognition of his contribution to the law, dedication and discipline, hard work and commitment. He was much loved by the junior members of the legal profession to whom he used to relate his experiences at the Bar.

From 1988 - 1991, Perera served as Sri Lanka's Ambassador, Extraordinary and plenipotentiary and accredited to United Nations in New York. In 2008, he had his second opportunity to serve as a diplomat when he was appointed as the High Commissioner to Canada by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Perera's career was not limited to the field of Law. He functioned as the President of the Sinhalese Sports Club from 1998-2008. His portrait was unveiled at the SSC in 2011.

He was an active member of the Royal College Old Boys' Union of which he functioned as the Deputy President. He also functioned as the Chairman of the Royal-Thomian match Committee on several occasions.

Perera took pleasure in educating and guiding the junior attorneys who were attached to his Chambers. There are many senior members of the AG's Department, career Judges, who had their training in his Chambers. President Rajapaksa also commenced his legal career in the Chambers of Perera. He has produced two Attorney Generals from his Chambers namely; C.R. de Silva P.C. and Mohan Peiris P.C. The current Chief Justice.

His death will leave a vacuum in the legal profession. He was outspoken individual believed in saying what he has to say. Those who knew him very well would always remember him for his loyal and faithful qualities as a friend. He will be missed not only by the legal profession, but also by great institutions such as Royal College and SSC.

May he attain Nibbhana!

Kalinga Indatissa President's Counsel