Mohan Peiris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mohan Peiris PC
මොහාන් පීරිස්
De facto Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
In office 15 January 2013 – 28 January 2015
Appointed by	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded by	Shirani Bandaranayake
Succeeded by	Shirani Bandaranayake
41st Attorney General of Sri Lanka
In office 2008–2011
Appointed by	Mahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded by	C. R. De Silva
Succeeded by	Shanthi Eva Wanasundera
Personal details
Spouse	Priyanthi Peiris
Children	Talia Peiris
Alma mater	St. Joseph's College, Colombo Royal College Colombo Sri Lanka Law College
Profession	Attorney-at-law

Peter Mohan Maithree Peiris is a well-known Sri Lankan lawyer and diplomat. He holds the special title of President's Counsel, which is given to senior lawyers. He served as the top lawyer for the government, called the Attorney General, from 2008 to 2011. Later, he became the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, the highest judge in the country, from 2013 to 2015. His appointment as Chief Justice was later declared invalid. Since January 2021, he has been Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United Nations. In June 2023, he was chosen as the Vice President for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Early Life and Education

Mohan Peiris went to two famous schools in Sri Lanka: St. Joseph's College, Colombo and Royal College, Colombo. While at school, he enjoyed playing cricket for both teams.

Becoming a Lawyer

After finishing school, Mohan Peiris studied law at the Sri Lanka Law College. He officially became a lawyer in Sri Lanka on June 19, 1975. A few years later, in 1978, he also became a solicitor in the courts of England and Wales. He started his legal career by working with experienced lawyers.

Working for the Government

In 1981, Peiris joined the Attorney General's Department, which is where government lawyers work. He started as a state counsel and later became a senior state counsel. During this time, he received special training in law from famous universities like Harvard Law School and George Washington University. He left the Attorney General's Department in 1996.

Private Legal Practice

After leaving the government, Mohan Peiris started his own private legal practice. This means he worked as a lawyer for individuals and companies. He handled many different types of cases, including those related to business law and human rights.

Serving as Attorney General

On December 18, 2008, Mohan Peiris was appointed as the Attorney General of Sri Lanka. In this important role, he was the chief legal advisor to the government. He also became a senior legal officer for the Cabinet in September 2011. In April 2012, he became the Chairman of Seylan Bank.

Becoming Chief Justice

Mohan Peiris was chosen to be the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This happened after the previous Chief Justice was removed from office. On January 15, 2013, a special council in Parliament approved his appointment. He was sworn in as Chief Justice on the same day.

His appointment caused some discussion. Some people felt that his close ties to the President might affect his independence as a judge. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka, which is the largest group of lawyers in the country, did not attend his official inauguration ceremony.

When a new president, Maithripala Sirisena, was elected in January 2015, he did not take his oath of office in front of Mohan Peiris. President Sirisena believed that Peiris's appointment was not valid from the beginning. On January 28, 2015, the government officially stated that Mohan Peiris's appointment as Chief Justice was invalid. This meant that the previous Chief Justice could return to her position.

Current Role at the United Nations

In January 2021, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Mohan Peiris as Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United Nations. In 2022, he was chosen to lead the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with disarmament and international security. In June 2023, he was elected as the Vice President for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This is a very important role in international diplomacy.

Family Life

Mohan Peiris is married to Priyanthi, who is also a lawyer. He is a Roman Catholic and attends All Saints’ Church in Borella.

See also

• Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats