Jayantha Jayasuriya facts for kids

Jayantha Chandrasiri Jayasuriya, also known as a PC, is a very important lawyer from Sri Lanka. He served as the 47th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, which is the highest judge in the country. He held this big job from April 2019 until October 2024.

Before becoming Chief Justice, he was the 45th Attorney General of Sri Lanka. This role means he was the government's chief legal advisor. He was approved for the Chief Justice role on April 26, 2019, and started three days later.

Jayantha Jayasuriya's Journey in Law

Jayantha Jayasuriya began his legal career in 1982. He took an oath to become an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. This means he was officially allowed to practice law in the country's highest court.

Working for the Government

Soon after, he joined the Attorney General’s Department. This department gives legal advice to the government. He started as a State Counsel. Over the years, he moved up through many important positions.

• He became a Senior State Counsel.
• Then, he served as Deputy Solicitor General.
• After that, he was an Additional Solicitor General.
• Finally, he became a Senior Additional Solicitor General.

These roles prepared him for even bigger responsibilities in the legal system.

Becoming Attorney General

After many years of hard work, Jayantha Jayasuriya was appointed as the Attorney General. This is a very senior position. As Attorney General, he represented the government in legal matters. He also gave legal advice to the President and other government officials.

During his time as Attorney General, he was involved in some important legal cases. For example, he defended a decision by the President to remove the Prime Minister. However, the Supreme Court later decided against this action. He also asked the Supreme Court to extend the President's term in office. The Supreme Court did not approve this request either.

Reaching the Top: Chief Justice

In April 2019, Jayantha Jayasuriya was chosen to be the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. This is the most important judicial position in the country. The Constitutional Council approved his appointment. He then took his oath of office.

As Chief Justice, he led the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in Sri Lanka. It makes final decisions on important legal issues. He served in this role until October 2024.

His Education

Jayantha Jayasuriya studied at Maliyadeva College. This is a well-known school in Sri Lanka. After school, he continued his legal studies at the Sri Lanka Law College. This is where he learned to become a lawyer.