Features

Whither legal profession?

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nagananda Kodituwakku

By Dr. Justice Chandradasa Nanayakkara

The recent judgment of the Supreme Court disenrolling attorney at law Nagananda Kodituwakku from legal practice for professional misconduct should prompt us to take a realistic and dispassionate look at the whole legal profession in this country.

Professional conduct is a fundamental prerequisite in any profession. Every profession has time-honoured ethical values and practices that its members are expected to observe in conducting their professional tasks and duties. These fundamental values and practices have been handed down from generation to generation. They are considered to be of fundamental importance and enduring value in any profession. The primary object of ethics in a profession is to, maintain the dignity and integrity of the profession. They also go a long way towards building trust and credibility with clients, colleagues, and the wider community.

Ethics in simple terms are the moral principles and standards that guide the behaviour and conduct of the professionals in their chosen fields. Today, we live in a time when the core values of every profession are being openly violated and treated with scant regard. The decline in professional values and professionalism has seeped into nearly every profession so much that no profession can boast of having maintained an untarnished professional reputation. This has resulted in the whole climate of opinion becoming hostile to many professions.

Professional ethics is particularly important in fields such as law medicine, engineering, and accounting. where professional conduct has a significant impact on the lives of individuals and society as a whole. Failure to adhere to ethical standards in these fields is bound to result in serious consequences, including loss of life, property, and financial loss.

In the legal profession, just as in other renowned professions adherence to ethical principles becomes very significant as every action, word, and decision professionals make has profound implications for society. As such it is crucial for lawyers to adhere to a strict code of ethics ensuring that they act with utmost honesty, integrity, and dedication.

The legal profession is one of the traditional professions characterised by certain features. Firstly, it is presumed that its members have specialised knowledge and a set of skills that are not generally available to a person who does not belong to that profession. Secondly, society accords special privileges to the legal profession because it thinks that lawyers would utilise their specialised knowledge in the best interests of their clients.

The word profession suggests a certain stature and prestige. The legal profession has been considered honourable and noble for centuries. It occupies a unique and responsible position in all civilised societies.

The legal profession has a long, distinguished, and eminent place in the history of this country. For many centuries’ lawyers have stood at the center of society and have played an important role in society. Not only in Sri Lanka but worldwide there is a high proportion of heads of state, ministers, and high officials drawn from the ranks of the legal profession. Leading the country in the right direction has fallen to the task of lawyers and it is generally the lawyers who have given leadership in our country more than any other. The future of a democratic state largely depends on the leadership provided by the legal profession.

There were eminent and patriotic lawyers in the past who fought indefatigably for the independence of this country. It is the lawyers who preserve inviolate the sacred fundamental and constitutional rights of the people enshrined in the Constitution whenever there are incursions into those rights. Lawyers have also fought valiantly to create a more equitable and just society in a period of crisis. Occasions have been many when lawyers fought for justice and equality. Therefore, there are ample reasons for the legal fraternity to be proud of its rich and glorious past.

Therefore, it is up to the present members of the profession look to the past and draw inspiration from the forebearers of the profession and keep the prestige of the profession inviolate.

Regrettably, today people witness a marked deterioration in the standard of the legal profession and the practice of law has now become a business in this country. It is important to remember that the legal profession is not a business or trade but a profession. A lawyer is expected to maintain a standard of conduct above that of a businessman.

As Thomas Shaffer, an American and most prolific author once declared. People become lawyers for many reasons. For some it is money: for some, it is the thrill of competition and desire for success: for others, it is the status that comes with it. At one time legal profession was ranked as the lowest among the professions and was considered one the most despised and hated professions in the US. It commanded little respect in their estimation. The President of the New York State Bar Association referring to the United States legal profession declared “Greed and avarice seem to permeate every facet of life in this country and practice of law too, is, not exempt.” It is no exaggeration to say that this applies equally to our legal profession. The legal profession has indeed moved away from long-established traditions and cannons of professional ethics.

In Sri Lanka, the practice of law by direct solicitation is prohibited in law. Nevertheless, how this prohibition is openly flouted with impunity by some unscrupulous lawyers can be seen if a person walks into some of the Magistrate’s Courts in the country. He will be able to see for himself how touts and other intermediaries hang around in the precincts of the courts to persuade prospective litigants to retain particular lawyers regardless of their capabilities. Such direct solicitation is bound to degrade the legal practice into a graft and destroy the confidence and respect of the community in the profession as a whole.

Some lawyers lack boundaries when stooping to low conduct, as they go to the extent of standing outside the courthouses with business cards in their hands offering their services to litigants. It is a disgusting practice degrading the whole profession, as a lawyer is not expected to solicit business or advertise either directly or indirectly.

People are appalled by the shame and disgrace to the profession and the legal profession has suffered tremendous damage to its image by the conduct of a few unscrupulous lawyers.

Moreover, some lawyers depend entirely on the police for their practice. They resort to what is known as police touting for their survival. There are also instances where defence lawyers have attempted to win over the witnesses with the cooperation of prosecuting officers intending to secure acquittals in cases.

Some lawyers are not dignified in their speech. They address the police officers on a friendly basis and address them as machan to obtain cases for them. Even some female lawyers address police officers by their first names and police officers in return address them by their first names. There have been instances when some junior lawyers have been abusive towards the senior members of the bar. It is sad to note that there are thorough misfits in the profession

However, it cannot be denied that there are exemplary practitioners in the legal profession and many lawyers are decent, ethical in their conduct and are hard-working, and maintain a high degree of integrity and commitment.

To uphold the integrity of the legal profession lawyers must be held accountable for breaches of established standards of professional conduct. It is of paramount importance that complaints against lawyers for misconduct in their professional capacity should be investigated expeditiously and appropriately dealt with if they are found wanting in their professional duties.

Although, much has been written and spoken on the deteriorating standards but nothing substantial seems to have been done to arrest the declining trend by the authorities whose responsibility it is to regulate the profession in the country.

The Bar Association as the governing body that represents the profession should have full control and powers of discipline over its members. However, the Bar Association’s failure to maintain high standards of ethics and professionalism warrants criticism.

It appears that there have been little efforts to arrest professional misconduct and malpractices committed by some black sheep and misfits in the profession. Disciplinary actions by the Bar Association to deal with professional misconduct committed by lawyers are few and far between. One can see an attitude of complacency and resignation in the face of the declining trend. There is a sense of apathy and inertia on the part of the authorities. The continued failure of the Bar Association to ensure that its members maintain high ethical standards in the practice of law has led to the decline in the profession and the corresponding decline in the public esteem of lawyers. As a result of the marked increase in the lawyers misconduct and the failure of the authorities to discipline violators, the standing of the legal profession is at its lowest. Therefore, it behoves the president of the bar association to take steps to arrest the declining trend in the profession.

The government should also be committed to safeguarding and improving a strong and independent legal profession. However, the legal profession’s independence is not a justification for immunity from public scrutiny. The government has a role to act in the public interest in setting the framework in which the self-regulating legal profession can provide an independent and quality legal service to the public.

I have adverted to some of these unpalatable truths that bring discredit and dishonour to the entire profession in one of my previous articles.

It is important to remember that the nobility of the legal profession lasts only so long as its members maintain their commitment to integrity and service to the community. The honour and nobility come to the profession through the conduct and behaviour of its members. Therefore, it is the duty of a person practicing law to maintain probity and a high standard of professional ethics and morality.

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Features

Proactive peacemaking becomes a paramount need

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wasting wars: Some war-displaced people in Lebanon. BBC

It may be some time before the full impact of food inflation is felt in the West. Until such time the world would continue to keep itself in suspense over whether the Trump administration is in earnest when it seeks to convey the impression that it is backing a negotiated solution in West Asia.

As is usually the case, consumer stress would be one of the final determinants of political change. To the degree to which the average US consumer somehow ‘muddles through’ and puts the food on the table, to the same extent would the Republican sections of the US public in particular be tolerant of the Trump administration’s inconsistent handling of the West Asian war and the main issues stemming from it. That is, there would be no grave popular disaffection and a demand for political change in the short term.

However, the indications are that the Trump administration’s support base is suffering some erosion in the wake of the current economic crisis. While reports indicate that Democratic sections are firming-up their opposition to the political centre, Republican support for Trump is also showing signs of waning, we are given to understand.

The above developments are probably why Trump is on record as having given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ‘dressing down’ recently on his seeming intransigence on the question of giving negotiations a chance in West Asia. The show of displeasure could be really aimed by Trump at containing the impatience of the American public.

However, the current ground situation in the Middle East, particularly the uncontained bloodshed, is likely to impress on the thinking sections of the world that more than temporary political change is needed in West Asia and the US.

A well thought out political solution that addresses all the contentious issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict is what enlightened opinion would demand, and very rightly. Right now, the ‘peace efforts’ initiated by the Trump administration give the impression of being piecemeal solutions at best.

There have been, of course, numerous initiatives in the past aimed at bringing permanent peace to the Middle East. These failed mainly because they did not address in full the root causes of the conflict.

At bottom the Middle East conflict is mainly about race and religious hate bred by socio-economic and material inequalities. For instance, if the Palestinian people were not displaced and deprived of land occupied by them at the time of the founding of the Israeli state, ethnic enmities would not have grown to the current unmanageable proportions.

When addressing the above questions, though, it must be remembered that the Israelis too were a displaced people who were entitled to land and a state of their own in the Middle East. Basically, out of these seemingly irreconcilable and conflicting demands have grown the Middle East imbroglio.

Middle East peace is considerably about reconciling these demands and arriving at a solution that would ensure the creation of two states that would opt for peaceful co-existence thereafter.

As long as the US does not see the need for a non-partisan solution that addresses the needs of both ethnicities and religions and goes all-out, as it were, to have it implemented, the Middle East would continue to bleed.

However, staunching the blood flow through the creation of two states would be only half the job done, though a very important part of it. More pernicious, pervasive and difficult to remedy are the inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatreds that have been unleashed over the decades.

However, if substantial, long-lasting peace is to be fostered in the region the latter ‘demons’ would need to be exorcised from the hearts and minds of the communities concerned. No doubt an uphill task but one that must be undertaken by those who wish the region well.

The UN would need to put its ‘best foot forward’ in such undertakings but it is time that it dawned on the international community and other caring quarters that Middle East peace, and all other such uphill challenges, require proactive peacemaking on the part of all civilized sections for their effective management. That is, public involvement in peacemaking too is a must.

Since hatreds are harboured in the human consciousness the enmities embedded in the latter need to be managed and defused judiciously alongside other undertakings in a peace process. In the case of West Asia, such enmities could be even spread globe-wide besides being multi-dimensional. For instance, it ought to be thought-provoking that Iran is insistent on a peace initiative that would also include Lebanon.

Besides security considerations it is also ethnic and religious affiliations that account for Iran making this demand. For instance, the Shias are a numerically important religious community in Lebanon and they provide a significant number of Hizbollah fighters, who are in a vital sense carrying out a ‘proxy war’ for Iran. It also needs to be factored in that Iran is a Shia-majority country.

Thus trans-border religious affiliations could add to the complexities and enormity of ethno-religious conflicts. However, the task of managing centuries-long enmities needs to be launched and prodded on with by peacemakers since a downing of arms alone would not guarantee substantive peace.

It is not realized sufficiently that the process of ending hatreds begins with mutual apologies by antagonists to a conflict for the harm inflicted on each other. This would be anathema in some ears but there is no getting away from the requirement. It is the vital first step to permanent peace anywhere.

In fact there could be no reconciliation worth speaking of without such mutual apologies. It is a point worth re-iterating in these times when even the government of Sri Lanka is voicing the need for national reconciliation. Well, without the words, ‘I am sorry’, there could be no permanent end to enmities – they would do well to remember.

The above requirements may not go down very well with governments, but they resonate in the hearts and minds of most people, since they are inheritors of religious traditions of some kind.

This is a principal reason why peacemaking works well when publics too are involved in them. The effectiveness of such campaigns increases several fold when they have a Mahatma Gandhi or a Jawaharlal Nehru at their helm. A strong proactive involvement by the public in peace could lead to the emergence of such leaders at some point in these campaigns.

Features

Dialog Brings Sri Lanka’s Largest Digital Vesak Experience to Matara

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

From left to right: Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, and Lasantha Theverapperuma experience the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered VR tours.

Official Digital Partner of the 2026 ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, collaborated with the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to bring one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most technologically advanced Vesak experiences to the ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone. The three-day celebration, in Matara attracted more than hundred thousand visitors, who engaged with a series of innovative digital activities powered by Dialog 5G Ultra, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, digital pandols and a Data Dansala. The opening ceremony was attended by Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, along with distinguished guests and Dialog’s senior management.

One of the key attractions at the venue was the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered Virtual Reality (VR) experience, which attracted more than 35,000 participants. The activation enabled devotees to virtually visit and pay homage to sacred Buddhist sites, including the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India and the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, directly from the Vesak zone in Matara.

Visitors receive complimentary mobile data through Dialog’s QR-powered Data Dansala.

Dialog also conducted an AI Digital Vesak Greeting Card Competition from 21 May to 01 June 2026, attracting numerous entries from across the country. The shortlisted designs were showcased across 20 large LED screens throughout the venue and across Matara City, and were also made available for download via mobile devices. Further, through the use of AI, traditional Jathaka Katha were reimagined in a digital format, demonstrating how technology can be used to preserve and enhance cultural and religious heritage. Together, these initiatives blended traditional Vesak celebrations with emerging technologies, offering visitors a unique and immersive way to engage with Vesak traditions.

Extending the spirit of Vesak through connectivity, Dialog conducted a special Data Dansala powered by its QR Reload platform, enabling visitors to receive complimentary mobile data by scanning QR codes placed across the venue. In addition to the Matara National Vesak Zone, similar Data Dansala activations were also conducted at the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones in Colombo.Visitors also had the opportunity to create personalised Vesak-themed digital photos through an AI Photo Booth, generating AI-enhanced portraits using their own photographs and adding a contemporary digital element to the Vesak celebrations.

Visitors watch AI-generated Jathaka Katha

Commenting on the initiative, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, said, “The 2026 Dakshina Prabha Vesak Festival marked the first time AI-powered digital innovations were incorporated into a National Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka. Presenting Buddhist stories and teachings through technology created a new and engaging way for visitors to connect with these traditions. We thank Dialog for supporting this initiative and for working closely with us to bring our vision to life. Their contribution played an important role in making this first-of-its-kind event a reality.”

Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for the opportunity to support the 2026 Dakshina Prabha National Vesak Festival and for embracing technology as part of this year’s celebrations. As the Official Digital Partner, we were privileged to contribute through our Dialog 5G Ultra and AI capabilities, creating new ways for visitors to engage with Vesak traditions while preserving their cultural significance for future generations.”

Beyond supporting the National Vesak Zone in Matara, Dialog also enhanced the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones through a range of digital activations during the Vesak season. The company additionally continued its sustainability initiatives, including the Thirasara Aloka Poojawa, which illuminated rural places of worship through solar-powered lighting solutions.

Features

Beauty, elegance and talent…for women

Published

14 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Universal Woman is an international pageant focused on “beauty, elegance, and talent” for women, positioning itself as a platform to shape global ambassadors. The 2026 edition will be held in Cambodia, and Sri Lanka will be there, as well.

According to reports coming my way, contestants, at the international event, will work with industry trailblazers, under international standards.

Sri Lankan supermodel, runway and pageant trainer Chulpadmendra Kumarapathirana, is the National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026.

With over two decades in the industry, Chula was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2006, and has since shaped the next generation of titleholders through her Colombo-based Chulpadmendra Catwalk Studio, widely regarded as one of the country’s leading modelling academies.

The team behind Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026

A former host of Derana Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2008 and a judge for Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2025, Chula now serves as National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026, leading the franchise’s search for Sri Lanka’s delegate to the international final in Cambodia.

Applications for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 are being taken, via WhatsApp: 077 659 4994, says Chula.

The judging panel for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 includes Senaka De Silva, Pageant Aesthetic Advisor & Chairperson of the Judging Panel, Angela Seneviratne, Caroline Jurie, Rozelle Plunkett, and Suraj Mapa.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 officially began its journey with a first round of auditions, held in Colombo, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in Sri Lanka’s pageant industry.

Launching the first round of auditions

The platform aims to empower women while selecting an intelligent, confident, and inspiring representative to compete at the Universal Woman International Pageant 2026 in Cambodia, this September.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka now moves forward with the vision of creating one of the country’s most prestigious and empowering pageants while preparing to crown a queen who will proudly represent Sri Lanka on the international stage.