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P SUNIL CHANDRA DE SILVA PC – 19TH ATTORNEY GENERAL PASSES AWAY

Published

6 years ago

2021/03/2

Sahan Weerasooriya

MAY YOU ATTAIN THE SUPREME BLISS OF NIRVANA

I have learnt of the death of Mr. Sunil de Silva PC – Former AG.

I initially met him when I joined the AG ‘s Department in 1987. He was one of the gentlemen who interviewed me. The AG at the time was Mr. Shiva Pasupathi. I recall the grilling that I had when he questioned me on Manawadu v AG which had been just pronounced.

He had his early education at Royal College and was very proud of his alma mater. Eventhough, I did not know him personally when I joined the Department, he took an instant liking to me. Later on in life, I got to know that he was closely connected to the Late Lalith Athulathmudali PC, who also played an important part in moulding me.

Mr. De Silva was very sad when I was selected to the Civil Branch. However, despite my allocation he used to send me Criminal files. After an year after I joined the Department, Mr. De Silva was appointed as the AG in 1988. While keeping me in the civil side he appointed me as SC Administration as the junior to Kolitha Dharmawardene initially and later to Mohan Pieris. I was relatively very junior for that appointment. Later he had commented that I was an incorrigible person and that the only way to reform me was to put me in charge of administration. That was a golden opportunity as I was compelled to study AR s and FR s and other Govt. Circulars. He knew all circulars by heart.

He was a very intelligent Gentleman and was an extremely mischievous human being. Those in the Department at that time would remember the pranks that he played on people. He had a marvelous sense of humour. His candour and repartee was second to none.

He was a stern AG. He never believed in media and in fact on the contrary issued several circulars restraining the members of the Department from going public.

He was one of those who developeda liking in me to history, traditions and ethical standards. He also developed our computer skills. I recall, that he got a few of us trained in computers as we had joined the Department. Nalin Ladduwahetty PC was his best student in the area of Computers.

He was a very fast driver. I recall many instances where we had travelled out of Colombo for official work. He used to take the wheel and drive at a speed of around 120 KM violating most of the provisions of the MTA. Anyway who cared after all he was the AG.

In the 1st Neethi Ranga that we held, The AG s Department staged a play. Mr.

De Silva acted in that and directed it. I recall taking part in that skit with my friend Shavindra Fernando. Later on I had the opportunity of acting with him in a few instances in He comes from Jaffna. Elson Divithurugama played the lead role in the drama. Mohomad Adamally played the role of Aru, his son. I played the same role taking turns. Angela Seneviratne, Kumar Paul, Shavindra Fernando and Sunil Rodrigo, AAL and former GM Galle Face Hotel were the other actors along with Sunil de Silva himself.

Mr De Silva was a pleasing personality. We all enjoyed his sense of humour. He was never at a loss for words. He enjoyed company. Even though he migrated to Australia, his heart was here. He kept in touch with all of us. Whenever he came for the Royal-Thomian, he met a few of us. Last time I had the opportunity of meeting him was when Palitha Fernando PC former AG organised a dinner at his residence for all the Department Old boys.

A few days ago he messaged me and checked whether his pension was being regularly deposited to the BOC Account. I immediately checked and informed him that it was. He wanted to use that in Sri Lanka when he visited here the next time.

Only yesterday he had taken a shot at Hiran Kulatilleke on a common whatsapp thread that we were all in.

He always believed in grooming the next generation. He shared his knowledge with every one without any reservation. He was kind to all but fearless. He continued to share his experience and knowledge even after retirement. He was a very sharp and an intelligent human being.

We have learnt a great deal from you Sir.

Life would have been different, if we did not come across people of your calbre.

We cherish and appreciate every second spent with you.

May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.

May your journey through Sansara be short.

Kalinga Indatissa

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Geneva takes up Sallay’s case and govt. ignores opportunity to answer accusations

Published

13 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

Suresh Sallay

The government has chosen not to respond to questions raised by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding the detention of retired Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay in connection with the ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested the ex-official in late February this year. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers have jointly raised the issue on 20 July, 2026.

Drawing attention of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to what they called alleged arbitrary detention of Sallay, former Director General of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI), under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), as well as allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment while in custody, resulting in the grave deterioration of his health, and imminent risks of retaliation through further torture and ill-treatment resulting in irreparable harm, should he be released from hospital and returned to custody, the UN sought the government explanation with a 60-day period.

The UN has stated: “This communication, and any response received from your Excellency’s Government, will be made public via the communications reporting website at the 60 days mark. Should your Excellency’s Government respond within 60 days, both the communication and the response, may be published before the 60 days mark. The communications and responses

will also be made available in the subsequent periodic report to be presented to the Human Rights Council.”

In the absence of the government’s response, the UN posted the letter, dated 20 July, 2026, addressed to President Dissanayake. The full letter can be accessed https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=31125

News

Section of wartime KKS High Security Zone vacated to facilitate economic development in the area

Published

13 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

The Army, last week, vacated an area, within the wartime high security zone in the Jaffna peninsula. The Defence Ministry said that an extent of 187.56 acres of land, belonging to the Cement Corporation in Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, has been released by the military. The released land, located in Grama Niladhari Division J/233, Kankesanthurai West, within the Valikamam North (Tellippalai) Divisional Secretariat Division, had been utilised by the Sri Lanka Army since the middle of 1997.

The release of the 187.56-acre extent forms part of the initiative to make State land available for the proposed investment zone in Kankesanthurai, thereby facilitating future investment and economic development in the area.

News

Lawyer lodges complaint against Govt. Printer, Media Ministry Secy.

Published

13 hours ago

2026/10/5

Thilina Walpola

A complaint has been lodged with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau against the Government Printer and the Secretary to the Ministry of Media regarding the online release of falsified documents bearing a forged Speaker’s certificate.

Attorney-at-Law Aruna Laksiri has lodged a complaint with the Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau requesting legal action against the Government Printer of the Department of Government Printing (No. 118, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 08), Prasanna Jayaratne, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media (Asidisi Medura, 163, Kirulapone Mawatha, Polhengoda, Colombo 05), Dr. Anil Jasinghe.

The complaint alleges the commission of offences by forging and uploading falsified documents online using a forged Speaker’s certification, failure to perform statutory duties, and misappropriation of public property.

The complaint states that a copy of the English translation of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was downloaded and printed from the official website of the Government Printing Department (www.documents.gov.lk), which operates under the Ministry of Mass Media. On its outer cover and on page 1, the text “certified on 25th of September, 2026” is inscribed inside brackets.

The complaint pointed out that the Speaker has certified an English translation. Under Articles 23, 79, 83, and 80 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts laws and the Speaker certifies bills strictly in the Sinhala and Tamil languages; under the Constitution, therefore the Speaker cannot apply such certification to an English translation.