Lawyer disenrolled for failing professional duties, ordered to return legal fees

Colombo, September 3 (Daily Mirror) - The Supreme Court today issued a ruling to remove a lawyer from the position of Attorney-at-Law for failing to take necessary steps in two cases after receiving legal fees. 

A Supreme Court three-judge bench, comprising Justices S. Thurairaja, Kumuduni Wickremasinghe and Achala Wengappuli, observed that the respondent attorney has acted in a manner unbefitting of an Attorney-at-Law and the allegations levelled against him are well founded. 

Meanwhile, the respondent lawyer was ordered to return Rs. 3 million within three months from the date of this to the complainant, a Buddhist monk, as well as all 
such documents he may have in his possession related to the matters for which he was 
retained.

Ven. Wellawe Sri Chandananda Thera of Ullalapola Sri Sugathawanarama Purana Viharaya, Divulapitiya, lodged a complaint against Attorney-at-Law Sarath Wijesiri De Silva, who was retained to appear in two land cases before the District Courts of Kurunegala and Minuwangoda. It is alleged that the respondent lawyer failed to take necessary steps in these cases, resulting in multiple postponements by the District Courts.

It was further alleged that the respondent lawyer had obtained Rs.4.45 million on several occasions to represent the complainant in Court and to attend to all professional matters in connection with two cases.