Ten President’s Counsel take silk

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

Ten senior attorneys yesterday took their oaths as President’s Counsel (PC) at a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court.   Chamantha Weerakoon, Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, Mohamed Adamaly, Harsha Fernando, Dr. Sivaji Felix, Faisza Markar, Kaushalya Nawaratne, Upul Kumarapperuma, Viran Corea and Eraj de Silva took their oaths as President’s Counsel before Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya PC and the judges of apex courts, Colombo High Courts, Colombo District Courts and Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Courts.   

President’s Counsel is a professional rank and status conferred to the appointee by the President under Article 33 (cc) of the Constitution. According to the constitutional provision, attorneys-at-law who have reached eminence in the profession and have maintained high standards of conduct and professional rectitude are appointed as President’s Counsel by the President.

The constitution states every President’s Counsel appointed under this provision shall be entitled to all privileges as were hitherto enjoyed by a Queen’s Counsel.