| Attorney General of Sri Lanka | |
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| Attorney General's Department | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Nominator | President of Sri Lanka |
| Appointer | Thepresident withConstitutional Counciladvice and consent |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | February 19, 1801; 224 years ago (1801-02-19) |
| First holder | James Dunkin as Advocate Fiscal of Ceylon |
| Deputy | Solicitor General of Sri Lanka |
| Website | www |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Politics of Sri Lanka |
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Theattorney general of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan government's chieflegal adviser, and its primary lawyer in theSupreme Court of Sri Lanka. The attorney general is usually a highly respected senior advocate, and is appointed by the ruling government. The current attorney general is Parinda Ranasinghe Jnr. The president does not have any power to make orders, mandatory or otherwise, to the attorney general. He heads theAttorney General's Department which is thepublic prosecutor.
Unlike theattorney general of the United States, the attorney general of Sri Lanka does not have anyexecutive authority and is not apolitical appointee; those functions are performed by theminister of justice. The attorney general is assisted by thesolicitor general of Sri Lanka and several additional solicitors general.
Under section 54 of theConstitution of Sri Lanka, thepresident of Sri Lanka appoints the attorney general on advice of the government. The general practice is the serving solicitor general succeeds the outgoing attorney general. However, there have been instances where exceptions have been made.[1]
Under the 17th Amendment and 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the attorney general along with the chief justice, the judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, the members of the Judicial Service Commission, and four other officials are placed in a constitutionally guaranteed position of security from removal from office.[2]
The powers and duties of the attorney general are derived from theAdministration of Justice Law, No. 44 of 1973 and theCode of Criminal Procedure Act.
Traditionally the attorney general is addressed by the honorificThe Honourable. The attorney general draws a monthly salary and pensionable allowance (as at 2017) of Rs 240,000 and other allowances of 332,800. He/she is entitled to an official vehicle and an official residence or an allowance of Rs 50,000 in place of such. Further a books allowance of Rs 30,000 andallowance for not engaging in private practice of Rs 150,000 is provided. The position is pensionable, and holders are entitled to governmentduty free permits.[3]
Data based on:
| Constitutional law |  | |
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| Courts of Sri Lanka | ||
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| Practitioners | ||
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