Christopher Weeramantry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
His Excellency Judge Sri Lankabhimanya
Christopher Weeramantry
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Christopher Weeramantry in June 2007
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| Vice-President of the International Court of Justice | |
| In office 1997–2000 |
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| President | Stephen M. Schwebel |
| Preceded by | Stephen M. Schwebel |
| Succeeded by | Shi Jiuyong |
| Judge of the International Court of Justice | |
| In office 1991–2000 |
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| Preceded by | Raghunandan Pathak |
| Succeeded by | Awn Al-Khasawneh |
| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Ceylon | |
| In office 1967–1972 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher Gregory Weeramantry
17 November 1926 Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 5 January 2017 (aged 90) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Judge |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Awards | Right Livelihood Award |
Sri Lankabhimanya Christopher Gregory Weeramantry (born 17 November 1926 – died 5 January 2017) was a very important Sri Lankan lawyer and judge. He worked as a Judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from 1991 to 2000. This is like being a judge for the whole world! He was even the Vice-President of the ICJ from 1997 to 2000. Before that, he was a judge in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka from 1967 to 1972. He also taught law at Monash University and led a group of lawyers who were against nuclear weapons.
Early Life and Education
Christopher Weeramantry was born on 17 November 1926 in Colombo, Ceylon (which is now Sri Lanka). He went to Royal College, Colombo, a well-known school.
At school, he was a top student. He was a senior prefect, which is a student leader. He also edited the school magazine and won many prizes for his studies. He even won the Governor's Scholarship and the Empire Essay Prize in 1943.
He studied at the University of Ceylon and later earned law degrees from King's College London in the United Kingdom. In 1948, he became a lawyer in Sri Lanka.
His Amazing Career
Christopher Weeramantry started his law career in Colombo. He worked as a lawyer until 1965. Then, he became a Commissioner of Assize, which is a type of judge.
In 1967, he was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He served there until 1972. After that, he moved to Australia and became a law professor at Monash University.
In 1991, he was chosen to be a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands. This court helps solve problems between countries. He became the Vice-President of the ICJ in 1997.
As Vice-President, he worked on many important cases. One famous case involved discussing whether it was legal for countries to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. He believed in peace and worked to prevent nuclear war.
After leaving the ICJ in 2000, he continued to work as an ad hoc judge for specific cases until 2002. He was also the president of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms. He advised groups like the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, which works on making the world a better place for the future.
He was a visiting professor at many universities around the world. These included Harvard University, University of Hong Kong, and University of Colombo.
Christopher Weeramantry passed away in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 5 January 2017, at the age of 90.
Awards and Honours
Christopher Weeramantry received many special awards for his important work:
- Sri Lankabhimanya: This is the highest honour in Sri Lanka, given in 2007.
- Right Livelihood Award: He received this award from Sweden in 2007. It's sometimes called the "Alternative Nobel Prize."
- UNESCO Prize for Peace Education: UNESCO gave him this award in 2006 for his work promoting peace through education.
- Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM): He received this honour from Australia in 2003.
- Deshamanya: Another important title from the Government of Sri Lanka.
Honorary Degrees
He also received many honorary degrees from universities, which means they recognized his great achievements:
- University of London (United Kingdom)
- University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)
- Monash University (Australia)
- National Law School of India (India)
- University of Ruhuna (Sri Lanka)
- Eastern University (Sri Lanka)
See also
- Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL)
- International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons
- List of peace activists
