Padman Surasena | |
|---|---|
| 49th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka | |
| Assumed office 27 July 2025 | |
| Appointed by | Anura Kumara Dissanayake |
| Preceded by | Murdu Fernando |
| Puisne Justice of theSupreme Court of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 9 January 2019 – 27 July 2025 | |
| Appointed by | Maithripala Sirisena |
| 46thPresident of theCourt of Appeal of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 15 January 2018 – 9 January 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | Lalith Dehideniya |
| Succeeded by | Yasantha Kodagoda |
| Judge of theCourt of Appeal of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 20 January 2016 – 15 January 2018 | |
| Appointed by | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Judge of theHigh Court of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 2007 – 20 January 2016 | |
| Appointed by | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Preethi Padman Surasena |
| Education | |
Preethi Padman Surasena is a Sri Lankan lawyer serving since 27 July 2025 as the 49thChief Justice of Sri Lanka. He was appointed by PresidentAnura Kumara Dissanayake.[1][2][3]
Surasena succeededMurdu Fernando, who retired as the 48th chief justice on 27 July.[4][5] Prior to his appointment, he served as apuisne justice (2019–2025)[6][7] and as the 46thpresident of theCourt of Appeal of Sri Lanka (2018–2019), in addition to holding other judicial appointments and serving in theAttorney General's Department.[8]
Surasena obtained his bachelor's degree in physics from theUniversity of Colombo in 1985. He then entered theSri Lanka Law College in the same year and was sworn in as an attorney in 1989.[8]
Surasena joined the Attorney General's Department of Sri Lanka and served as a Senior State Counsel.[8] He was appointed as a judge of theHigh Court of Sri Lanka in 2007 by PresidentMahinda Rajapaksa. On 20 January 2016, PresidentMaithripala Sirisena nominated and appointed him as ajudge of theCourt of Appeal of Sri Lanka.[9][10]
On 15 January 2018, he was appointed as the 46th president of the Court of Appeal by President Sirisena.[11][8]
On 9 January 2019, Surasena was appointed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka as a puisne justice by President Sirisena.[6][7]
On 22 July 2025, PresidentAnura Kumara Dissanayake nominated Surasena for appointment as the next chief justice, following the retirement ofMurdu Fernando on 27 July. The nomination was considered and ratified by theConstitutional Council on 23 July.[4][5]
On 27 July, Surasena was sworn in as the 49th chief justice of Sri Lanka by President Dissanayake.[1][2][3][12]
On 11 December 2025, during an official visit to India, Surasena was accorded a ceremonial sitting at theSupreme Court of India, led byChief JusticeSurya Kant.[13]
On 10 March 2015, President Sirisena appointed Surasena as the chairman of Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC).[14]
In January 2025, Surasena was appointed by PresidentAnura Kumara Dissanayake as a member of theJudicial Service Commission (JSC), filling the vacancy created by the retirement of former Chief JusticeJayantha Jayasuriya.[15] He became chairman of the commission on 27 July 2025, following the retirement of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and his own elevation to the post.[1]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of theCourt of Appeal of Sri Lanka 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Justice of Sri Lanka 2025–present | Incumbent |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded byasSpeaker of the Parliament | Order of precedence of Sri Lanka as Chief Justice | Succeeded byasLeader of the Opposition |
| The Court |  | ||||
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| Current membership |
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| All members | |||||
