List of justices of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka

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Codrington Edmund Carrington Lawrence.jpg
Dr.Shirani Bandaranayake.jpg

This is a list of justices of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. They are listed in the order in which they took the judicial oath of office and commenced their term. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

List of justices

19th century

As of 28 February 2025
List of justices appointed to the Supreme Court: 1800–1899
No.NameAppointed byStart / end / length of service
Puisne JusticeChief Justice
1 Codrington Edmund Carrington North —(1st chief justice)
March 1801 – 2 April 1806
2 Edmund Henry Lushington North 5 September 1801 – 15 April 1807
5 years, 222 days		(2nd chief justice)
15 April 1807 – 1809
3 Alexander Johnston Maitland 15 April 1807 – 14 February 1809
1 year, 305 days		(3rd chief justice)
6 November 1811 – 1819
4 William Coke Maitland 6 March 1809 – 1 September 1818
9 years, 179 days		6 March 1809 – 1811 [a]
5 Henry Byrne Brownrigg 5 November 1818 – 1819—
6 Ambrose Hardinge Giffard Brownrigg —(4th chief justice)
8 April 1819 – 2 March 1827
7 years, 328 days
7 Richard Ottley Barnes [b] 8 May 1820 – 1 November 1827
7 years, 177 days		(5th chief justice)
1 November 1827 – 1833
8 Henry Matthews Barnes 10 October 1827 – 1828—
9 Charles Marshall Barnes 14 June 1828 – 18 February 1833
4 years, 249 days		(6th chief justice)
18 February 1833 – 3 March 1836
3 years, 14 days
10 William Rough Wilmot-Horton 18 February 1833 — 1838—
11 William Norris Wilmot-Horton 1834 – 27 April 1836(7th chief justice)
27 April 1836 – 1837
12 John Jeremie Wilmot-Horton 10 March 1836 – 1840—
13 John Fredrick Stoddart Stewart-Mackenzie 2 June 1838 – 19 August 1839
1 year, 78 days		—
14 Anthony Oliphant Stewart-Mackenzie —(8th chief justice)
22 October 1838 – 1854
15 J. G. Hillebrand Stewart-Mackenzie 23 November 1839 – 1841 [c] —
16 William Ogle Carr Stewart-Mackenzie 19 December 1839 – 17 April 1854
14 years, 119 days		(9th chief justice)
17 April 1854 – 1856
17 John Stark Stewart-Mackenzie 10 October 1840 – ?—
18 Christopher Temple Anderson 28 January 1854 – 1873—
19 Paul Ivy Sterling Ward 20 November 1855 – ?—
20 William Carpenter Rowe Ward —(10th chief justice)
1857 – 1859
21 Edward Shepherd Creasy Ward —(11th chief justice)
27 March 1860 – 1875
22 Richard Morgan Ward 1 January – 19 November 1857 [c]
322 days
1 January – 6 November 1860 [c]
310 days		—
23 George Lawson Ward 1860 – 1861 [c]
1871 – 1872 [c] 		—
24 Henry Byerley Thomson MacCarthy 1 January 1863 – 1866—
25 Charles Henry Stewart Robinson 11 January 1867 – 1879 [d] —
26 Richard Cayley Gregory 26 July 1874 – 1 October 1879
5 years, 67 days		(14th chief justice)
1 October 1879 – 1882
27 Lovell Burchett Clarence Gregory 4 April 1876 – 1888—
28 Harry Dias Bandaranaike Gregory
Longden 		1876 [c]
5 July 1879 – 1892		1–12 October 1879 [e]
9 January – 5 June 1888 [e]
29 William Hackett Gregory —(12th chief justice)
3 February – 17 May 1877
103 days
30 John Budd Phear Longden —(13th chief justice)
18 October 1877 – 30 September 1879
1 year, 347 days
31 Archibald Campbell Lawrie Longden 1 July – 13 November 1877 [c]
6 July 1892 – 1901		—
32 Jacobus de Wet Longden —(15th chief justice)
31 May 1882 – 29 May 1883
363 days
33 Bruce Burnside Longden —(16th chief justice)
21 May 1883 – 1893 [f]
34 John Winfield Bonser Havelock —(17th chief justice)
13 November 1893 – 1902
35 George Henry Withers Havelock 6 July 1892 – 1900—
36 Dodwell Browne Havelock 1895—

20th century

As of 28 February 2025
List of justices appointed to the Supreme Court: 1900–1999
No.NameAppointed byStart / end / length of service
Puisne JusticeChief Justice
37 Frederick Charles Moncrieff Ridgeway 4 April 1900 – 1905—
38 Henry Lorensz Wendt Ridgeway 15 October 1901 – 28 November 1910
9 years, 44 days		—
39 John Page Middleton Ridgeway 28 January 1902 – 1912—
40 Charles Layard Ridgeway —(18th chief justice)
26 April 1902 – 18 June 1906
4 years, 53 days
41 Joseph Richard Grenier Ridgeway 28 November 1910 – 1912 [g] —
42 Alexander Wood Renton Blake 3 September 1905 – 1914(21st chief justice)
22 August 1914 – 1918
43 Joseph Turner Hutchinson Blake —(19th chief justice)
23 October 1906 – 1 May 1911
4 years, 190 days
44 Alfred Lascelles McCallum —(20th chief justice)
1 May 1911 – 1914
45 Walter Pereira McCallum 4 July 1912 –—
46 James Van Langenberg McCallum 1912–1915—
47 George Francis Macdaniel Ennis McCallum 5 August 1912 – 1925—
48 Walter Shaw Chalmers 10 December 1914 – 1921—
49 Thomas de Sampayo Chalmers 1915–—
50 Stewart Schneider Anderson 1917–—
51 Anton Bertram Stubbs [b] —(22nd chief justice)
26 July 1918 – 1925
52 Hermann Albert Loos Manning 1919–1920—
53 William Thomas Porter Manning 12 January 1922 –—
54 Thomas Garvin Manning 21 June 1921 – 1935—
55 John Adrian St. Valentine Jayewardene Manning 1923–—
56 Llewelyn Dalton Manning 14 March 1925 –—
57 Charles Ernest St. John Branch Clementi [b] —(23rd chief justice)
3 July 1925 – 25 May 1926
326 days
58 Robert Lyall-Grant Clifford 17 February 1926 –—
59 Stanley Fisher Clifford —(24th chief justice)
11 December 1926 – 1930
60Allen Drieberg Fletcher [b] 19 September 1927 –—
61 Eugene Wilfred Jayewardene Fletcher [b] May 1928 –—
62 Philip James Macdonell Stanley —(25th chief justice)
3 October 1930 – 1936
63 William Edward Barber Thomson 1932–—
64 Lucien Macull Dominic de Silva Stubbs 1933–1934—
65Lewis Matthew Maartensz Stubbs 18 February 1935 –—
66 Maas Thajoon Akbar —
67Francis Harold Bertram Stubbs 19 February 1935 –—
68 Kenneth Poyser –1939—
69 Francis Soertsz Stubbs 12 November 1936 –—
70 Sidney Abrahams Stubbs —(26th chief justice)
3 July 1936 – 1939
71Francis Moseley Stubbs 2 August 1936 –—
72 Vincent Fernando Caldecott 11 November 1937 –—
73 Hector Hearne Stubbs 21 May 1937 – 1944—
74 Arthur Eric Keuneman Caldecott 4 March 1938 –—
75 Oswald Leslie De Kretser II Caldecott 8 April 1938 – 1945—
76 Arthur Wijewardena Caldecott 22 August 1938 – 15 January 1949
10 years, 146 days		(28th chief justice)
15 January 1949 – 1950
77 John Harry Barclay Nihill Caldecott 18 November 1938 –—
78 John Curtois Howard Caldecott —(27th chief justice)
1 December 1939 – 1949
79 George Harry Franklyn Cannon Caldecott 1939–1947—
80 Edward Jayetileke Caldecott 14 May 1942 – 1950(29th chief justice)
1950 – 11 October 1951
81 Alan Rose Moore 11 January 1945 – 11 October 1951
6 years, 273 days		(30th chief justice)
11 October 1951 – 1956
82A. R. H. Canakeratne Moore 28 March 1945 –—
83 M. W. H. de Silva Moore —
84 Felix Reginald Dias Bandaranaike II Moore 3 September 1946 –—
85 C. Nagalingam Moore 22 July 1947 – 1958—
86 Ralph Windham Moore 23 July 1947 – 1950—
87 Hema Henry Basnayake Moore 23 October 1947 – 1 January 1956
8 years, 70 days		(31st chief justice)
1 January 1956 – 3 August 1964
8 years, 215 days
88 Noel Gratiaen Moore 22 March 1948 – 2 May 1956
8 years, 41 days		—
89E. H. T. Gunasekera Moore 1 March 1949 – 25 January 1962
12 years, 330 days		—
90 M. F. S. Pulle Ramsbotham 28 September 1949 –—
91V. L. St. C. Swan Ramsbotham 1 May 1950 –—
92H. A. de Silva Ramsbotham 30 November 1950 –—
93 N. K. Choksy Ramsbotham 1951–—
94Henry Weerasooriya Ramsbotham 10 July 1953 – 24 February 1964
10 years, 229 days		—
95K. D. de Silva Ramsbotham 10 July 1953 –—
96 Miliani Sansoni Ramsbotham 10 May 1954 – 3 August 1964
10 years, 85 days		(32nd chief justice)
3 August 1964 – 17 November 1966
2 years, 106 days
97 Hugh Fernando Goonetilleke 16 May 1955 – 20 November 1966
11 years, 188 days		(33rd chief justice)
20 November 1966 – 17 November 1973
6 years, 362 days
98 T. S. Fernando Goonetilleke 2 May 1956 –—
99Nadaraja Sinnetamby Goonetilleke 3 May 1956 –—
100Lionel de Silva Goonetilleke 5 November 1959 –—
101 Henry Thambiah Goonetilleke 1 December 1961 – 27 May 1968
6 years, 178 days		—
102Kingsley Herath Goonetilleke 25 January 1962 –—
103 A. W. H. Abeyesundere Gopallawa 20 April 1962 – 3 May 1968
6 years, 13 days		—
104 P. Sriskandarajah Gopallawa 22 June 1962 – 8 February 1967
4 years, 231 days		—
105 Gardiye Punchihewage Amaraseela Silva Gopallawa 22 June 1962 – 1973(34th chief justice)
1973–1974
106Lionel Sirimanne Gopallawa —
107 V. Manicavasagar Gopallawa 17 December 1964 – 14 December 1967
2 years, 362 days		—
108 Eugene Reginald de Fonseka Gopallawa —
109 A. C. Alles Gopallawa 1964–1974—
110 V. Sivasubramaniam Gopallawa 1966–1970—
111Leonard de Silva Gopallawa 16 August 1966 –—
112George Samerawickrame Gopallawa 18 November 1966 – 9 April 1981
14 years, 142 days		—
113 Victor Tennekoon Gopallawa 8 February 1967 – 1 July 1970
3 years, 143 days		(35th chief justice)
1 January 1974 – 8 September 1977
3 years, 250 days
114 Christopher Weeramantry Gopallawa 1967 – 30 April 1972—
115 Oswald Leslie De Kretser III Gopallawa 1968 – 21 January 1972—
116Samarapilimudalige Wijayatilake Gopallawa 1968 – 16 May 1975—
117Pandita Gunawadena Gopallawa 1968 – 10 February 1971—
118 Vincent Thamotheram Gopallawa 23 March 1970 – 1980—
119 Hector Deheragoda Gopallawa 22 February 1972 – 27 December 1976
4 years, 309 days		—
120Cuda Banda Walgampaya Gopallawa 22 February 1972 – 3 January 1976
3 years, 315 days		—
121 Jaya Pathirana Gopallawa 22 February 1972 – 1978—
122Dharmadasa Wimalaratne Gopallawa 10 April 1972 – 15 September 1985
13 years, 158 days		—
123 Tellipalai Rajaratnam Gopallawa 10 April 1972 – 1978—
124Donald Sirimanne Gopallawa 1973 –—
125Cyril Udalagama Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
126T. A. de S. Wijesundera Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
127Malcolm Perera Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
128Izadean Mohamed Ismail Gopallawa 1 January 1974 – 18 December 1981
7 years, 351 days		—
129Joe Weereratne Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
130Arulampalam Vythialingam Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
131Noel Tittawela Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
132 Suppiah Sharvananda Gopallawa 1 January 1974 – 29 October 1984
10 years, 302 days		(37th chief justice)
29 October 1984 – 22 February 1988
3 years, 116 days
133Somaratne Walpita Gopallawa 1 January 1974 –—
134Wilmot Gunasekera Gopallawa 2 May 1974 –—
135 Barnes Ratwatte II Gopallawa 2 December 1974 – 22 November 1983
8 years, 355 days		—
136Raja Wanasundera Gopallawa 5 June 1975 –—
137Percy Colin-Thomé Gopallawa 12 January 1976 –—
138 Neville Samarakoon Jayewardene —(36th chief justice)
1977 – 21 October 1984
139Victor Perera Jayewardene 24 July 1981 – 18 August 1983
2 years, 25 days		—
140J. F. A. Soza Jayewardene 26 January 1982 – 3 February 1984
2 years, 8 days		—
141 Parinda Ranasinghe Jayewardene 15 November 1982 – 1988(38th chief justice)
1988–1991
142Abdul Cader Jayewardene 8 December 1982 – 28 May 1985
2 years, 171 days		—
143Heevi Rodrigo Jayewardene 8 December 1982 – 4 December 1984
1 year, 362 days		—
144E. A. D. Atukorale Jayewardene 27 November 1984 –—
145 Herbert Thambiah Jayewardene 27 November 1984 – 1991(39th chief justice)
1991 – 14 October 1991
146Lucian de Alwis Jayewardene 27 November 1984 –—
147O. S. M. Seneviratne Jayewardene 10 February 1986 – 1989—
148 H. A. G. de Silva Jayewardene 10 February 1986 –—
149 Mark Fernando Jayewardene 4 March 1988 – 2005—
150A. R. B. Amerasinghe—
151A. R. N. Fernando—
152 Ameer Ismail Premadasa 1990–1994—
153 Andrew Ranjan Perera Premadasa —
154 P. Ramanathan Premadasa —
155 K. M. M. B. Kulatunga Premadasa —
156 G. P. S. de Silva Premadasa —(40th chief justice)
1991–1999
157 Sarath N. Silva Kumaratunga 1995 – 16 September 1999(41st chief justice)
16 September 1999 – 7 June 2009
9 years, 264 days
158 Shirani Bandaranayake [h] [i] Kumaratunga 30 October 1996 – 18 May 2011
14 years, 200 days		(43rd chief justice)
18 May 2011 – 13 January 2013
1 year, 240 days
28–29 January 2015
1 day
159 Asoka De Zoysa Gunawardana Kumaratunga 1996–1999—

21st century

  Current justices
As of 28 February 2025
List of justices appointed to the Supreme Court: 2000–present
No.NameAppointed byStart / end / length of service
Puisne JusticeChief Justice
160 C. V. Vigneswaran Kumaratunga March 2001 – October 2004—
161 Asoka de Silva Kumaratunga 1 August 2001 – 8 June 2009
7 years, 311 days		(42nd chief justice)
8 June 2009 – 17 May 2011
1 year, 343 days
162 Chandra Nihal Jayasinghe Kumaratunga 19 February 2003 – 29 February 2008
5 years, 10 days		—
163 Nimal Dissanayake Kumaratunga  ? – 23 April 2008—
164 Shiranee Tilakawardane Kumaratunga 19 February 2003 – 5 April 2014
11 years, 45 days		—
165 Nimal Gamini Amaratunga Kumaratunga January 2005 – March 2014—
166 Saleem Marsoof Kumaratunga February 2005 – 2014—
167 Andrew Somawansa M. Rajapaksa 28 May 2006 – October 2008—
168 Jagath Balapatabendi M. Rajapaksa —
169 K. Sripavan M. Rajapaksa 27 March 2008 – 30 January 2015
6 years, 309 days		(44th chief justice)
30 January 2015 – 28 February 2017
2 years, 29 days
170 P. A. Ratnayake M. Rajapaksa 2 May 2008 – 15 February 2013
4 years, 289 days		—
171 Chandra Ekanayake M. Rajapaksa November 2008 – March 2016—
172 S. I. Imam M. Rajapaksa 9 January 2009 – 20 February 2020
11 years, 42 days		—
173 R. K. S. Suresh Chandra M. Rajapaksa 17 June 2010 – July 2012—
174 Sathya Hettige M. Rajapaksa 10 July 2011 – 18 April 2014
2 years, 282 days		—
175 Priyasath Dep M. Rajapaksa 10 July 2011 – 1 March 2017
5 years, 234 days		(45th chief justice)
1 March 2017 – 12 October 2018
1 year, 225 days
176 Eva Wanasundera M. Rajapaksa 7 July 2012 – 14 December 2018
6 years, 160 days		—
— Mohan Peiris [i] M. Rajapaksa —15 January 2013 – 28 January 2015
2 years, 13 days [i]
177 Rohini Marasinghe M. Rajapaksa 26 April 2013 – November 2015—
178 Buwaneka Aluwihare M. Rajapaksa 4 December 2013 – Januaray 2024—
179 Sisira de Abrew M. Rajapaksa 7 May 2014 – 2 June 2021
7 years, 26 days		—
180 Sarath de Abrew M. Rajapaksa 7 May 2014 – January 2016—
181 Priyantha Jayawardena M. Rajapaksa 7 May 2014 – February 2024—
182 Upali Abeyratne M. Rajapaksa 17 December 2014 – August 2017—
183 Anil Goonaratne Sirisena 30 January 2015 – December 2017—
184 K. T. Chitrasiri Sirisena 3 December 2015 – February 2018—
185 Nalin Perera Sirisena 3 March 2016 – 12 October 2018
2 years, 223 days		(46th chief justice)
12 October 2018 – 29 April 2019
199 days
186 Prasanna Jayawardena Sirisena 16 June 2016 – 24 December 2019
3 years, 191 days		—
187 Vijith Malalgoda Sirisena May 2017 – 19 August 2024—
188 Lalith Dehideniya Sirisena 16 January 2018 – 2023—
189 Murdu Fernando Sirisena 9 March 2018 – 1 December 2024
6 years, 267 days		(48th chief justice)
2 December 2024 – present
95 days
190 Padman Surasena Sirisena 9 January 2019 – present
6 years, 57 days		—
191 S. Thurairaja Sirisena 9 January 2019 – present
6 years, 57 days		—
192 Gamini Amarasekera Sirisena 9 January 2019 – present
6 years, 57 days		—
193 Jayantha Jayasuriya Sirisena —(47th chief justice)
29 April 2019 – 10 October 2024
5 years, 164 days
194 Yasantha Kodagoda G. Rajapaksa 20 March 2020 – present
4 years, 352 days		—
195 Dilip Nawaz G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020 – present
4 years, 96 days		—
196 Kumudini Wickremasinghe G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020 – present
4 years, 96 days		—
197 Shiran Gooneratne G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020 – present
4 years, 96 days		—
198 Janak de Silva G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020 – present
4 years, 96 days		—
199 Achala Wengappuli G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020 – present
4 years, 96 days		—
200 Mahinda Samayawardhena G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020 – present
4 years, 96 days		—
201 Arjuna Obeyesekere G. Rajapaksa 14 June 2021 – present
3 years, 266 days		—
202 Priyantha Fernando Wickremesinghe 6 February 2023 – present
2 years, 29 days		—
203 Sobitha Rajakaruna Dissanayake 12 January 2025 – present
54 days		—
204 Menaka Wijesundara Dissanayake 12 January 2025 – present
54 days		—
205 Sampath B. Abeykoon Dissanayake 12 January 2025 – present
54 days		—
206 Sampath Wijeratne Dissanayake 12 January 2025 – present
54 days		—

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Provisional chief justice.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 The appointment was made in the capacity of acting governor.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Acting puisne justice.
  4. ↑ On leave (1 January – 28 April 1871).
  5. 1 2 Acting chief justice.
  6. ↑ On leave (25 November 1890 – February 1891).
  7. ↑ Acting puisne justice (12 May 1903 – 28 November 1910)
  8. ↑ Shirani Bandaranayake was impeached by Parliament on 11 January 2013, with 155 votes in favour and 49 against. She was subsequently removed from office on 13 January 2013 after President Mahinda Rajapaksa ratified the impeachment motion.
  9. 1 2 3 Following the election of President Maithripala Sirisena, the government declared Mohan Peiris’s appointment as Chief Justice void ab initio, leading to his removal from office and the reinstatement of Shirani Bandaranayake.

References

  1. ↑ Amerasinghe, A. Ranjit B. (1986). The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka: The First 185 Years. Sarvodaya Book Pub. Services. ISBN   978-955-599-000-4.
  2. ↑ Weerakkody, Dinesh (2013-02-13). "The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka". www.ft.lk. Archived from the original on 2019-09-17. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  3. ↑ "Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka - Chapter XV - The Judiciary". www.commonlii.org. 2000. Archived from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
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