Bandula Karunarathna

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The Honourable
Bandula Karunarathna
51st President of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
In office
6 February 2023 –16 June 2025

Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna (born 16 June 1962) is a Sri Lankan lawyer who served as the 51st president of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka from 6 February 2023 to 16 June 2025. He was appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. [1]

He had previously served as a judge of the Court of Appeal. [2]

Karunarathna commenced pre-retirement leave on 2 February 2025, with M. T. Mohammed Laffar appointed as acting president. [3] [4] He concluded his tenure on 16 June 2025 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 63 and was succeeded as the 52nd president by Rohantha Abeysooriya. [5]

Career

Karunarathna joined the judiciary in November 1988 and served as a judge in Sri Lanka's Primary Court, Magistrate's Court, District Court, High Court and Civil Appellate High Court. [2] [6]

He was appointed as a judge of the Court of Appeal on 6 March 2019 by President Maithripala Sirisena. [2] [6]

On 6 February 2023, Karunarathna was appointed the 51st president of the Court of Appeal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. [1] [7]

In February 2024, President Wickremesinghe nominated him for elevation as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, but the Constitutional Council rejected the nomination. [8]

The mandatory retirement age for a judge of the Court of Appeal in Sri Lanka is 63. Karunarathna was therefore due to retire on 16 June 2025. However, in January 2025, the newly elected National People's Power government and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake criticised his execution of duties and prepared to move an impeachment motion in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Karunarathna subsequently tendered his resignation on 1 February 2025 to President Dissanayake and proceeded on pre-retirement leave until 16 June 2025, the date on which he was due to conclude his tenure as president of the Court of Appeal. [3] [9]

M. T. Mohammed Laffar, the next most senior judge of the Court of Appeal, was appointed acting president and served from 2 February until his retirement on 18 June 2025. [4] Karunarathna was succeeded as the 52nd president of the Court of Appeal by Rohantha Abeysooriya on 19 June 2025. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "New Appeal Court president and Supreme Court judge sworn in". Ada Derana. 6 February 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "New Court of Appeal Justice appointed". Daily Mirror. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 Padmasiri, Ranjith (12 January 2025). "Appeal Court President to resign amid Govt's move to impeach him". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Justice Laffar Tahir appointed Acting President of Appeals Court". Ada Derana. 2 February 2025. Archived from the original on 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 "New Appeal Court President, judges sworn in". Daily Mirror. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Impact of modern communications should be taken into account: Justice Karunarathna". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. 17 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Samarawickrama, Chaturanga Pradeep; Sooriyagoda, Lakmal (16 February 2023). "Bar welcome Justice Nissanka Banduala Karunarathne as President of Court of Appeal". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "CC and President on collision course again". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. 4 February 2024. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "Controversial judge hands over resignation letter to President". Newswire. 20 January 2025. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
Legal offices
Preceded by President of the Court of Appeal
2023–2025		Succeeded by
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