Attorney General of Sri Lanka
| Attorney General of Sri Lanka | |
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Incumbent since 12 July 2024 Parinda Ranasinghe (Acting: 1 July – 12 July 2024) | |
| Attorney General's Department | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Nominator | The President |
| Appointer | The President with Constitutional Council advice and consent |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Formation | February 19, 1801 |
| 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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The attorney general of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan government's chief legal adviser, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme 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 the Attorney General's Department which is the public prosecutor.
Unlike the attorney general of the United States, the attorney general of Sri Lanka does not have any executive authority and is not a political appointee; those functions are performed by the minister of justice. The attorney general is assisted by the solicitor general of Sri Lanka and several additional solicitors general.
Appointment
[edit]Under section 54 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the president 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]
Powers and duties
[edit]The powers and duties of the attorney general are derived from the Administration of Justice Law, No. 44 of 1973 and the Code of Criminal Procedure Act.
Salary and entitlements
[edit]Traditionally the attorney general is addressed by the honorific The 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 and allowance for not engaging in private practice of Rs 150,000 is provided. The position is pensionable, and holders are entitled to government duty free permits.[3]
List of attorneys general
[edit]Data based on:
- Amerasinghe, A. Ranjit B. (1986), The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka: the first 185 years, Sarvodaya[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Constitution of Sri Lanka
- ^ The misunderstood role of the Attorney General in Sri Lanka
- ^ SRI LANKA: JUDGES AND STATE LAW OFFICERS TO GET SUBSTANTIAL SALARY HIKES AND NEW ALLOWANCES
- ^ Amerasinghe, A. Ranjit B (1986), The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka : the first 185 years, Sarvodaya Book Pub. Services, ISBN 978-955-599-000-4
- ^ "Parinda Ranasinghe appointed as new Attorney General". Ada Derana. 12 July 2024. Archived from the original on 13 July 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- "Permanent Holders of the Office of Attorney General". Attorney-General's Department (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
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