Sarath Jayamanne to run for BASL President in 2023/24

Sarath Jayamanne, PC, a former Senior Additional Solicitor General with a 32-year career in the AG’s Department has declared that he will be contesting for the post of President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, for the year 2023/24.

Having graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Applied Science (Biology, Maths and Physics) from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, he enrolled at the Sri Lanka Law College, where he was also the captain of the rugger team.

He was admitted to the Bar in 1988. He went on to obtain a Masters Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Oxford. He has been the recipient of the prestigious Fulbright and Chevening Scholarships, and received his grounding at St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota, where he was the head prefect. He received Silk as President’s Counsel on February 17, 2015.

Jayamanne’s practice spans all aspects of public law, including criminal law and administrative law. He was the Director-General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for three years, and was also a visiting Judge of the Court of Appeal of Fiji.

While serving as a Prosecutor, he was involved in the prosecution of many a landmark case, such as the Kobeigane Beauty Queen Murder Case, Hokandara Murder Case, Trial of the Murder of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya, Embilipitiya Youth Disappearance Case, Mass Murder in Mirusuvil, Jaffna, the prosecution of the wife of a senior Minister charged with double murder etc.

Additionally, he was part of the group of prosecutors who were instrumental in introducing DNA evidence and telephone evidence to the Sri Lanka Courts for the first time. These successes were achieved through the support of the Senior and Junior Prosecutors who worked with him on the various cases.

The elections for the BASL President for 2023/2024 will be held in February 2023.