Sithambarampillai 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.

S. Thurairaja
எஸ். துரைராஜா
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Assumed office
9 January 2019
Appointed byMaithripala Sirisena
Preceded byK. T. Chitrasiri
Justice of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
In office
15 September 2016 – 9 January 2019
Personal details
Born
Sithambarampillai Thurairaja

Central Province, Sri Lanka
Alma mater
ProfessionLawyer

Early life

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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

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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 of Sri Lanka 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

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "The Law Officers". Colombo, Sri Lanka: Attorney General's Department. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "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.