July 22, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has put forward the name of Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena as his choice to assume the role of Chief Justice, signalling a significant transition at the helm of the country’s judiciary.
The nomination has now been submitted to the Constitutional Council for its consideration, with the Council expected to deliberate on the proposal during its upcoming session scheduled for Wednesday (23), according to sources.
The impending vacancy follows the retirement of current Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, who is due to step down on July 27 upon reaching the compulsory retirement age.
Justice Surasena, widely respected within legal circles, is among the most senior members of the current bench. Over the course of his career, he has played a central role in shaping legal discourse in Sri Lanka, having presided over a wide array of sensitive and high-stakes cases. His previous service on the Judicial Service Commission further underscores his extensive experience in matters of judicial governance and institutional reform.
