The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka had the distinct honour of welcoming the senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court of India
Justice Surya Kant Visits the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
By Adheesha Kulatunga
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka had the distinct honour of welcoming Hon. Justice Surya Kant, senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court of India, on a courtesy visit to the Court this week. This welcome was also extended to the President and Vice-President of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association Prof. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar and Dr. Vikram Singh Arya, who accompanied Hon. Justice Surya Kant on his visit to the island.
Justice Surya Kant, who was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on the 24th of May 2019, presently serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. A distinguished jurist, he commenced his legal career at the District Courts of Hisar, Haryana, in 1984, later specialising in Constitutional, Service, and Civil law at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana in 2000 and was designated a Senior Advocate before his elevation as a permanent Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004.
In keeping with tradition, Hon. Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena extended a warm welcome to Hon. Justice Surya Kant, to join His Lordship the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice A.L. Shiran Gooneratne and Hon. Justice Achala Wengappuli on the Bench. Addressing the Court, the Hon. Chief Justice introduced Justice Surya Kant and welcomed His Honour and the President and Vice-President of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association, to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
Following this, Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya in his capacity as the President of the BASL, also welcomed Hon. Justice Surya Kant and retinue, on behalf of the members of the Bar of Sri Lanka. Mr. Rajeev Amarasuriya, in the course of his address, highlighted Justice Surya Kant’s illustrious academic and professional achievements, describing the visit as a symbol of judicial fellowship.
Subsequently, Hon. Justice Surya Kant took the opportunity to address the Court and
expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality. His Honour observed that India and Sri Lanka are emotionally, culturally, and socially connected and have been for centuries, and that their judicial systems are bound by the shared heritage of Commonwealth legal principles.
His Honour proceeded to extend an invitation to His Lordship the Chief Justice and other Hon. Justices of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka to visit India citing it as an opportunity to share and exchange judicial perspectives and practices. His Lordship the Chief Justice thanked Hon. Justice Surya Kant for the kind sentiments, following which Court proceedings commenced and adjourned shortly after.
