Justice Murdu Fernando took her oath as Sri Lanka’s new Chief Justice today (December 2) in a ceremony before President Anura Dissanayake. She becomes the second woman in Sri Lanka’s history to hold this prestigious position, following Shirani Bandaranayake, who was appointed in 2011.
Justice Fernando now serves as the 48th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, succeeding Jayantha Jayasuriya upon his recent retirement. Her appointment was formally approved by the Constitutional Council.
Starting her career at the Attorney General’s Department in 1985, Justice Fernando steadily rose through the ranks, becoming Deputy Solicitor General in 1997 and Additional Solicitor General in 2014. Her extensive service, spanning over 30 years, culminated in her appointment to the Supreme Court in March 2018.
As the most senior Supreme Court Justice prior to her appointment, she has made significant contributions to the development of Sri Lanka’s legal framework. Her earlier roles included serving as Senior Additional Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department, highlighting her dedication to public service.
Justice Fernando is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo, where she earned her Bachelor of Laws degree.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
