B/N 1047 Sri Lanka Law College – 150th Anniversary

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts has issued a new postage stamp in the denomination of Rs. 50.00 on 01st March 2024 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Law College

Date of Issue	01st March 2024
Denomination	Rs.50.00
Catalogue No:	CSL 2568
Stamp Art By	Ruwan Indrajith Upasena
Stamp Size:	60mm x 25mm
Sheet Composition:	20 stamps per sheet

"Our duty is to provide the Island with men properly qualified to practice the profession of Law- men who would adorn and not disgrace it"

-Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan

It has been one and a half centuries since the inception of Sri Lanka Law College. In its role as one of Asia's first professional educational institutes, it has played a truly immense role in determining Sri Lanka's pathway towards growth. The earliest establishment of the legal profession in Sri Lanka, was during the control of the Dutch. However, its noticeable growth was seen only after the Charter of Justice, brought into effect on 18 April 1801, during the control of the British, which established the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. It was the uppermost authority of the legal profession and of legal education in Sri Lanka.

As per the reforms made to the Judiciary in 1833, the Supreme Court was given the authority to appoint individuals with capability, knowledge, skill, and good repute, as Advocates and Proctors. In its earliest days, legal education existed only in the form of the Apprentice System, where any person expecting to enter the legal profession, had to be trained under a senior legal professional. But, since this was not a form of education available to all equally, and due to other shortages in this system, there was a substantial need for more a effective form of legal education. In hopes of this, the Incorporated Council of Legal Education was established under Ordinance No. 19 of 1873, and subsequently, in 1874, Ceylon Law College was established. There onwards, the pathway of entrance to the legal profession, was set. 

It was the Chief Justice during the time of establishment of Law College, Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy, who formed the necessary background, to select the most suitable individuals to enter the legal field. To this day, the Chairman of the Incorporated Council of Legal Education is held, by default, by the Chief Justice. 

Many new changes were made with regard to legal education, by the Courts Ordinance No. 1 of 1889. These bills were drafted by Sir Ponnambalam Ramanadan. Under his own Presidency, in the year 1894, the Law Students’ Union was formed, and throughout the initial portion of the 1900s, it’s presidency was held by a senior lawyer. Later on, this position was given to law students themselves.

The “Law Students’ Hall”, which is the main building of Sri Lanka Law College, designed by famed British architect Edward Skinner, the construction of which begun in the year 1911, is one of the most attractive architectural spectacles of Hulftsdorp. The foundation stone, for this building was laid by the Chief Justice at the time, Sir Joseph Hutchinson, and many leading senior lawyers, let by Sir T.E. De Sampayo, worked actively towards its success.

Providing women with opportunities in legal education, in the year 1934, is a landmark incident in the history of College. 

In the year 1936, a Report on Legal Education in Ceylon was formulated and presented by then Registrar Mr. C.C.A. Brito Muthunayagam, and here, a long-term requirement of College, for a permanent administrative officer, was proposed. This individual, termed the Principal, was expected to work in an advisory capacity, and to guide the law students of College. In addition to this proposal, many other important suggestions, including the construction of a Main Hall adjacent to the Law college building, were included in this report. 

Mr. Brito Muthunayagam, who presented the report, was appointed as the first Principal of Law College, where he conducted his duties in this position for two decades, contributing greatly towards the betterment of College. Currently, Dr. AthulaPathinayake who is the position of Principal of Sri Lanka Law College, and under his guidance, Sri Lanka Law College is currently undergoing many changes to meet many timely needs.

Voet Inn, the Hostel of Law College, was founded in the year 1949, in Barnes Place, and the project was funded by Mr. N.E. Weerasooria KC. In 1986, this Hostel was moved to Rajagiriya.

By the Administration of Justice Law No. 44 of 1973, the two branches Advocates and Proctors were combined into a single entity, known as Attorneys-at-Law.

Other than the students that enter College by passing the General Entrance Examination, all students who obtain Degrees in Law from Local and Foreign Universities, also face examinations at Law College. Hence, it is fair to say that all former and current professionals in the legal field, are alumni of Sri Lanka Law College. Three Executive Presidents of Sri Lanka, namely, the Late Hon. J.R. Jayawardena, Hon. Mahinda Rajapakse and the Current President Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, alongside many revered political figures in the history of Sri Lanka, such as Sir Lalitha Rajapakse, Sir Cyril De Zoysa, Dr. C.W.W. Kannangara, Mr. Gamini Dissanayake and Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali, are all proud alumni of Sri Lanka Law College. In addition, Mr. Appapillai Amirthalingam and Mr. R. Sambandan, who both held the position of opposition leader, are also alumni of college. Furthermore, all Sri Lankan Chief Justices, Attorneys General, all Judges of Lower Courts and all other legal professionals were all learned by Sri Lanka Law College.

As it did in the past 150 years, it is our undying belief that Sri Lanka Law College will continue to contribute to the betterment of this country in significant ways. We wish that this hallowed institution will produce many great professionals in time to come, who will lead this land ridden in darkness, towards the light.

 

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