Shirani Bandaranayake
Encyclopedia
Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake (born April 1958) is the 43rd and current Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
. She became the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka when she took oaths on May 18, 2011, succeeding the retiring Asoka de Silva.
Bandaranayake obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the Faculty of Law
of the University of Colombo in 1980, and her PhD
from the University of London
in 1986. After admission to the bar, she worked as an Attorney at Law at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, and as a lecturer at the University of Colombo. She was later appointed Dean of the Faculty of Law, and also served on the Judicial Service Commission of Sri Lanka.
Dr. Bandaranayake was first appointed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
in 1996, becoming the first female Supreme Court Judge in Sri Lanka. Through the next 14 years, she served as the acting Chief Justice during a number of occasions. Following the mandatory retirement of Justice Asoka de Silva in May 2011, Dr. Bandaranayake was sworn in as Chief Justice of Sri Lanka before President Mahinda Rajapaksa
.
Dr. Bandaranayake’s primary and secondary education is closely linked to the places of work of her father. She commenced her early education at Ginigathhena Primary School (1962 – 1965), whilst her father served as the Principal of the Ginigathhena Central College. In 1965 she had studied for a period of one term at Kegalle Balika at a time her father was the Principal of Hettimulla Bandaranaike College. In May 1965 she joined Tholangamuwa Primary when her father was transferred to Tholangamuwa Central College as its Principal. In 1970, she joined Tholangamuwa Central College in which she studied until the year 1972. Due to her father’s transfer to the North Central Province, Dr. Bandaranayake joined Anuradhapura Central College from which she entered the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo on the basis of the Advanced Level Examination held in 1976.
Dr. Bandaranayake is married to Pradeepa Kariyawasam, an Old Royalist and a Sportsman of Cricketing vintage,who has over 30 years of experience as a Professional Marketeer and International Management Consultant and is currently Chairman of the National Savings Bank
. Their only son, Shaveen Bandaranayake Kariyawasam, also a Royalist has just completed his degree in Bachelor of Science in Computing specializing in Multimedia, obtaining a First Class Honours and coming first in the order of Merit from University of Staffordshire. He had carried out his studies at the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT), Sri Lanka.
. Dr. Bandaranayake was awarded the Degree of Master of Philosophy
from the University of Colombo in 1983 and in the same year she was enrolled as an Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
. In 1986 she obtained the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of London, becoming the first woman in Sri Lanka to obtain a Ph.D in Law from a foreign University.
Dr. Bandaranayake is a recipient of several scholarships and awards. She was awarded the Commonwealth Open Scholarship in 1983, the Chevening Scholarship in 1989, Fulbright-Hays Fellowship in 1996 and the British Council Assert Award in 1993 and 1994. The Zonta club awarded the Woman of Achievement Award in the field of Law to Dr. Bandaranayake in 1998 and the District 306 C of the International Lions Club made an Award to her in 2004.
Dr. Bandaranayake has written several Articles and Monographs and has presented several papers in the field of Public Law.
Dr. Bandaranayake commenced her career as a visiting lecturer attached to the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo in 1981 and after holding the positions of Assistant Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, became the Head of the Department of Law in 1987. After serving several stints as the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, she became the Dean of the Faculty in 1992. Dr. Bandaranayake has also held the position of Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo on several occasions. She became an Associate Professor of Law on merit in 1993.
Dr. Bandaranayake has served as a member of several Committees of the University of Colombo and other Universities and has also functioned as a member of the Human Rights Task Force, the Council of Legal Education and the Law Commission of Sri Lanka.
After serving the University of Colombo for over 16 years, Dr. Bandaranayake was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court in October 1996, at a time when she was functioning as the Associate Professor of Law and the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo.
Since joining the Judiciary, she has functioned as a member of the Judges Institute and the Judicial Service Commission.
Dr. Bandaranayake has served as the Acting Chief Justice 11 times.
She is the first woman Judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in which capacity she has served in for over 14 years.
Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
The Chief Justice of Sri Lanka is the highest post in the judicial system of Sri Lanka and heads the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. The Chief Justice is appointed by the President, chosen from candidates recommended by the Constitutional Council...
. She became the first female Chief Justice of Sri Lanka when she took oaths on May 18, 2011, succeeding the retiring Asoka de Silva.
Bandaranayake obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the Faculty of Law
Faculty of Law, University of Colombo
The Faculty of Law is one of seven faculties of the University of Colombo. The premier law school in the country, it conducts both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs in the field law....
of the University of Colombo in 1980, and her PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1986. After admission to the bar, she worked as an Attorney at Law at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, and as a lecturer at the University of Colombo. She was later appointed Dean of the Faculty of Law, and also served on the Judicial Service Commission of Sri Lanka.
Dr. Bandaranayake was first appointed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is the highest court of the nation of Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court is the highest and final judicial instance of record and is empowered to exercise its powers, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. The Court has ultimate appellate jurisdiction in...
in 1996, becoming the first female Supreme Court Judge in Sri Lanka. Through the next 14 years, she served as the acting Chief Justice during a number of occasions. Following the mandatory retirement of Justice Asoka de Silva in May 2011, Dr. Bandaranayake was sworn in as Chief Justice of Sri Lanka before President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Percy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
.
Early Life
Dr. Bandaranayake was born in April 1958 in Kurunagala to Flora and Wilson Bandaranayake, who were Educationists. Her mother, Flora Bandaranayake, an old girl of St. Josephs Convent, Kegalle, was an English trained teacher and a versatile musician. Her father Wilson Bandaranayake,the first Graduate from Maliyadeva Boys School, Kurunegala, commenced his career as a Principal and had served schools in Godakawela, Nildandahinna, Dedigama, Ginigathhena, Hettimulla and Tholangamuwa. Thereafter, he had joined the Ministry of Education and had served for over a period of 10 years as the Provincial Director of Education in North Central Province which included Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts until his retirement in October 1983. They hail from Kegalle/Madabawita and Kurunegala/Matale, respectively.Dr. Bandaranayake’s primary and secondary education is closely linked to the places of work of her father. She commenced her early education at Ginigathhena Primary School (1962 – 1965), whilst her father served as the Principal of the Ginigathhena Central College. In 1965 she had studied for a period of one term at Kegalle Balika at a time her father was the Principal of Hettimulla Bandaranaike College. In May 1965 she joined Tholangamuwa Primary when her father was transferred to Tholangamuwa Central College as its Principal. In 1970, she joined Tholangamuwa Central College in which she studied until the year 1972. Due to her father’s transfer to the North Central Province, Dr. Bandaranayake joined Anuradhapura Central College from which she entered the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo on the basis of the Advanced Level Examination held in 1976.
Family
Dr. Bandaranayake’s only sibling, her younger sister, Renuka, an Engineering Graduate from the University of Moratuwa, works and resides in Perth, Australia with her husband Kapila Karunaratna, a Mining Engineer.Dr. Bandaranayake is married to Pradeepa Kariyawasam, an Old Royalist and a Sportsman of Cricketing vintage,who has over 30 years of experience as a Professional Marketeer and International Management Consultant and is currently Chairman of the National Savings Bank
National Savings Bank (Sri Lanka)
National Savings Bank , is a state-owned Savings Bank in Sri Lanka. It was incorporated in Ceylon by the National Savings Bank Act No. 30 of 1971 and was granted the status of the Licensed Specialised Bank in terms of the Banking Act No. 30 of 1988. NSB has 182 branches, 12 Postal Banking Branches...
. Their only son, Shaveen Bandaranayake Kariyawasam, also a Royalist has just completed his degree in Bachelor of Science in Computing specializing in Multimedia, obtaining a First Class Honours and coming first in the order of Merit from University of Staffordshire. He had carried out his studies at the Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT), Sri Lanka.
Academic Life
Dr. Shirani Anshumala Bandaranayake obtained her Degree of Bachelor of Laws with second class honours in the upper division becoming first in the order of merit in 1980 from the Faculty of Law, University of ColomboUniversity of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
. Dr. Bandaranayake was awarded the Degree of Master of Philosophy
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
from the University of Colombo in 1983 and in the same year she was enrolled as an Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is the highest court of the nation of Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court is the highest and final judicial instance of record and is empowered to exercise its powers, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. The Court has ultimate appellate jurisdiction in...
. In 1986 she obtained the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the University of London, becoming the first woman in Sri Lanka to obtain a Ph.D in Law from a foreign University.
Dr. Bandaranayake is a recipient of several scholarships and awards. She was awarded the Commonwealth Open Scholarship in 1983, the Chevening Scholarship in 1989, Fulbright-Hays Fellowship in 1996 and the British Council Assert Award in 1993 and 1994. The Zonta club awarded the Woman of Achievement Award in the field of Law to Dr. Bandaranayake in 1998 and the District 306 C of the International Lions Club made an Award to her in 2004.
Dr. Bandaranayake has written several Articles and Monographs and has presented several papers in the field of Public Law.
Dr. Bandaranayake commenced her career as a visiting lecturer attached to the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo in 1981 and after holding the positions of Assistant Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, became the Head of the Department of Law in 1987. After serving several stints as the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, she became the Dean of the Faculty in 1992. Dr. Bandaranayake has also held the position of Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo on several occasions. She became an Associate Professor of Law on merit in 1993.
Dr. Bandaranayake has served as a member of several Committees of the University of Colombo and other Universities and has also functioned as a member of the Human Rights Task Force, the Council of Legal Education and the Law Commission of Sri Lanka.
After serving the University of Colombo for over 16 years, Dr. Bandaranayake was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court in October 1996, at a time when she was functioning as the Associate Professor of Law and the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo.
Since joining the Judiciary, she has functioned as a member of the Judges Institute and the Judicial Service Commission.
Dr. Bandaranayake has served as the Acting Chief Justice 11 times.
She is the first woman Judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in which capacity she has served in for over 14 years.
Academic and Professional Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) (University of London) March l986 in Public Law, specialization in Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) (University of Colombo, Sri Lanka) October l983, specialization in Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (Second Class Honours) Upper Division (University of Colombo, Sri Lanka) December l980 - Came first in the order of merit
- Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, September l983
Scholarships and Awards
- Commonwealth Scholar,University of London l983 to l986
- British Council Award for Commonwealth Young Lawyers (Chevening Scholarship) l990
- British Council Assert Award l993
- British Council Assert Award l994
- Merit Award for a joint research paper presented at the conference held by Postgraduate Institute of Management
- Fulbright –Hays Fellowship, tenable at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA - 1996
- Woman of Achievement in the field of Law – Zonta Award for 1998
- International Lions Club – District 306 C Award, 2004
- International Women’s Day Award – Independent Television Network, 2007
Positions held (Prior to 1996)
- Founder Co-ordinator/Law, Kotalawala Defence Academy (KDA)
- Senior Editor/The Colombo Appellate Law Reports
- Chairperson/Sports Advisory Board, University of Colombo
- Editor in Chief/Colombo Law Review, University of Colombo
- Elected Member/Faculty Board of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Open University of Sri LankaOpen University of Sri LankaThe Open University of Sri Lanka is a national university in Sri Lanka. It is unique within the Sri Lankan national university system for being the only university to offer programmes of study leading to certificate, diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate degree through the...
- Elected Member/Faculty Board of the Postgraduate Institute of Management, University of Sri Jayawardenapura
- Academic Facilitator/Annual Foundation Programme, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies
- Unit Author/The Open University of Sri Lanka
- Member, Board of Governors/International Jurists Organization, India
- Member / Human Rights Task Force
- Member/National Task Force on Forestry Legislation
- Member/Working Committee for Law and Computers
- Member/Expert Working Committee on Banking and Law
- Member/National Task Force on Environmental Law
- Member, Editorial Committee, The Commonwealth Association for Education in Journalism and Communication