S. Thurairaja

Sithampbarampillai Thurairaja, PC (Tamil: சிதம்பரப்பிள்ளை துரைராஜா, romanized: Citamparappiḷḷai Turairājā) is a Sri Lankan lawyer and a sitting Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He was formerly a Justice of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka and High Court of Fiji.

The Honourable Justice S. Thurairaja PC
எஸ். துரைராஜா
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 January 2019
Appointed by	Maithripala Sirisena
Preceded by	K. T. Chitrasiri
Justice of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
In office 15 September 2016 – 9 January 2019
Personal details
Born	Sithampbarampillai Thurairaja Central Province, Sri Lanka
Alma mater	University of Colombo University of London
Profession	Lawyer

Early life

Thurairaja was educated at Saraswathy Maha Vidyalayam in Pussellawa and St. Anthony's College, Kandy.[1][2] He has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Colombo and a Master of Laws degree from the University of London.[3] He also holds diplomas in forensic medicine, business information technology and computer appliances.[3]

Career

Thurairaja qualified as an attorney-at-law in 1988 and joined the Attorney General's Department in 1989.[4] He rose up the ranks to become Senior State Counsel, Deputy Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor General.[5][6][7] He was a high court judge in Fiji.[8][9] He was appointed President's Counsel in 2016.[4]

Thurairaja was appointed to the Court of Appeal in September 2016, becoming the first Indian Tamil to be appointed to the court.[2][4] In October 2018 the Constitutional Council recommended that Thurairaja be appointed to the Supreme Court.[10] President Maithripala Sirisena refused to follow the recommendation and suggested alternative names but in January 2019 the Constitutional Council reconfirmed its recommendation of Thurairaja.[11][12] He was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court on 9 January 2019.[13][14]

References

1. "The single largest challenge faced by our profession is delay: Justice Thurairaja". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
2. Selvanayagam, S. S. (27 September 2016). "Court of Appeal gets first judge from upcountry Tamil community". Daily FT. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
3. "The Law Officers". Colombo, Sri Lanka: Attorney General's Department. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
4. "S.Thurairajah appointed as Appeal Court Judge". Tamil Diplomat. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
5. Sirisena, Priyalal (2 November 2004). "Suspects in fraudulent land transaction appear in court". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
6. ""The book for every investigating police officer as well as for every dutiful citizen"". The Island. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
7. "Additional Solicitor General Thurairajah sworn in as Court of Appeal Judge". News First. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
8. Sauvakacolo, Siteri (22 July 2011). "Court acquits alleged rape trio". Fiji Sun. Suva, Fiji. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
9. "Ship building company ordered to claim $34,267". Fiji Village. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
10. Mudalige, Disna; Nafeel, Nushka (26 October 2018). "Constitutional Council approves nominations for SC, CA". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
11. "CC Gives Sirisena Slap In The Face: Decides To Reconfirm Appointments Of Amarasekera And Thurairaja: Surasena Promoted To SC". Colombo Telegraph. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
12. "CC Reconfirms Appointments Of Thurairaja And Amarasekera To SC: Unanimously Approves Surasena As Eva's Replacement". Asian Mirror. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
13. "New Appeal Court and three Supreme Court judges take oaths". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
14. "Three new Supreme Court justices sworn in". Ada Derana. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.