The history of the legal profession in Sri Lanka in its current form dates back to the Charter of Justice of 1801. After the establishment of the Supreme Court of Judicature of the Island of Ceylon, the initial legal practitioners were foreign nationals. In 1833, a further Charter made provisions for the admission of Advocates and Proctors to practice law. This power was vested with the Supreme Court.
The two branches of the profession namely advocates and proctors appear to find its origin of the English law principles. In England, there were two distinct branches referred to as Barristers and Solicitors.
Even though, Section 17 of the 1833 Charter, recognized the power of the Supreme Court to admit professionally skilled persons of good repute to the Bar in Ceylon, a noteworthy feature was that Ceylon did not have a collective body providing legal education.
In 1873, the Council of Legal Education was formed and the Ceylon Law College was founded in 1874. This institution is one of the oldest professional institutions in Sri Lanka.
In 2024, the Sri Lanka Law College celebrates its 150th Anniversary. The Law College which has been the foundation for many a legal luminary is under the purview of the Council of Legal Education of which the Chief Justice functions as the Head.
To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of this hallowed institution, several members of the Alumni will host an event on July 6, 2024. The main event would be within the premises of the Sri Lanka Law College and a fellowship would continue at the CH & FC Grounds at Maitland Crescent in the evening of the 6th of July.
The Bar currently consists of more than 25,000 members and the organizing committee expects a significant number to attend these two events on this day.
The launching of this event was held today (May 8) at the Law College premises. Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC graced the occasion as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Dr. Athula Pathinayake, the current Principal and the Organizing Committee.
The Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam PC and many other legal luminaries attended this event.
