CJ to retire on July 27, President likely to recommend a nominee in the coming week

Chief Justice Murdu Fernando is to retire on July 27 upon reaching 65 years of age. She is due to make a farewell speech before the Supreme Court on Friday (25).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is likely to recommend a nominee to be the country’s next Chief Justice to the Constitutional Council (CC) in the coming week, the Sunday Times learns. The CC is scheduled to convene on Wednesday (23).

According to the level of seniority, Justice Preethi Padman Surasena is the next senior-most Justice on the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the outgoing CJ has recommended the name of Court of Appeal Judge Rathnapriya Gurusinghe to the President to fill the existing vacancy in the Supreme Court, while she has also recommended Supreme Court Justice Mahinda Samayawardhena to fill the existing vacancy in the Judicial Service Commission.

At the Attorney General’s Department, AG Parinda Ranasinghe has appointed Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne to function as the head of the Department’s Criminal Division. Accordingly, he will now head both the Civil and Criminal Divisions of the AG’s Department.

Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Solicitors General Hiranjan Peiris, Azard Navavi, Lakmali Karunanayake and Sudarshana Silva have been promoted as Additional Solicitors General.

(Sunday Times)