John De Saram
Encyclopedia
John De Saram is a Sri Lanka
n diplomat
and lawyer
, who served as Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York. He was a former Director of the Office of the Legal Counsel, United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
and was a former member of the United Nations International Law Commission.
to a family of lawyers, De Saram was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
from where he entered the newly established Law Faculty of the University of Ceylon
in 1949 and graduated with an LLB shortly he took oaths as an advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon.
. Rising to become the Director of the Office of the Legal Counsel of the Office of Legal Affairs, he became a member of the United Nations International Law Commission.
In 1998 he took up appointment as Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York. Holding the post till 2002, he was instrumental neutralizing LTTE activity in the UN.
Currently he is a consultant and counsel for the prominent law firm DL&F De Saram.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, who served as Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York. He was a former Director of the Office of the Legal Counsel, United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
United Nations Office of Legal Affairs
The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs is a United Nations agency, established in 1946, that performs several key functions in the area of international law....
and was a former member of the United Nations International Law Commission.
Education
Born in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
to a family of lawyers, De Saram was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
from where he entered the newly established Law Faculty of the University of Ceylon
University of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
in 1949 and graduated with an LLB shortly he took oaths as an advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon.
Career
After a brief period of private practice, he joined the United Nations Office of Legal AffairsUnited Nations Office of Legal Affairs
The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs is a United Nations agency, established in 1946, that performs several key functions in the area of international law....
. Rising to become the Director of the Office of the Legal Counsel of the Office of Legal Affairs, he became a member of the United Nations International Law Commission.
In 1998 he took up appointment as Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York. Holding the post till 2002, he was instrumental neutralizing LTTE activity in the UN.
Currently he is a consultant and counsel for the prominent law firm DL&F De Saram.