K. Sripavan
{{Short description|Sri Lankan judge}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = K. Sripavan
|native_name = {{lang|ta|க. சிறீபவன்}}
{{lang|si|කේ. ශ්රීපවන්}}
|honorific-suffix =
|image =
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|order1 = 44th
|office1 = Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
|appointer1 = Maithripala Sirisena
|term_start1 = 30 January 2015
|term_end1 = 28 February 2017
|predecessor1 = Shirani Bandaranayake
|successor1 = Priyasath Dep
|office2 = Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
|appointer2 = Mahinda Rajapaksa
|term_start2 = 27 March 2008
|term_end2 = 30 January 2015
|predecessor2 = Nihal Jayasinghe
|successor2 = Anil Gooneratne
|office3 = President of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
|appointer3 = Mahinda Rajapaksa
|term_start3 = 5 March 2007
|term_end3 = 27 March 2008
|predecessor3 =
|successor3 =
|office4 = Judge of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
|appointer4 = Chandrika Kumaratunga
|term_start4 = 29 May 2002
|term_end4 = 5 March 2007
|predecessor4 =
|successor4 =
|office5 = Deputy Solicitor General of Sri Lanka
|appointer5 =
|term_start5 = 22 February 1996
|term_end5 = 29 May 2002
|predecessor5 =
|successor5 =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|02|29|df=yes}}
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|alma_mater = Queen Mary and Westfield College
|occupation =
|profession = Lawyer
|religion =
|nationality = Sri Lankan
|signature =
|signature_alt =
|website =
|blank1 = Ethnicity
|data1 = Sri Lankan Tamil
}}
Kanagasabapathy J. Sripavan ({{langx|ta|கனகசபாபதி சிறீபவன்}} Kaṉakacapāpati Ciṟīpavaṉ, {{langx|si|කනකසපාපති ශ්රීපවන්}} ; born 29 February 1952) is a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and judge. He was Deputy Solicitor General, judge and president of the Court of Appeal, Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and the 44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.{{cite news|title=Senior Judge of the Supreme Court K. Sri Pavan is sworn-in as the Chief Justice before President|url=http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/23511-senior-judge-of-the-supreme-court-k-sri-pavan-is-sworn-in-as-the-chief-justice-before-president-.html|work=Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation|date=30 January 2015|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202123627/http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/component/content/article/1-latest-news/23511-senior-judge-of-the-supreme-court-k-sri-pavan-is-sworn-in-as-the-chief-justice-before-president-.html|archive-date=2 February 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Justice K. Sripavan today took oaths as the 44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/node/86319|work=Asian Tribune|date=30 January 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Bastians|first1=Dharisha|title=Sripavan takes office|url=http://www.ft.lk/2015/01/31/sripavan-takes-office/|work=Daily FT|date=31 January 2015|archive-date=2 February 2015|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202123553/http://www.ft.lk/2015/01/31/sripavan-takes-office/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka Appoints Minority Tamil as Top Judge|url=http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sri-lanka-appoints-minority-tamil-as-top-judge-735892|work=NDTV|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=30 January 2015}}
Early life and family
Sripavan was born on 29 February 1952.{{cite news|last=Maniccavasagar|first=Chelvatamby|title=Justice Sripavan to be felicitated|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/03/16/fea09.htm|newspaper=Daily News (Sri Lanka)|date=16 March 2005|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120729200356/http://www.dailynews.lk/2005/03/16/fea09.htm|archivedate=29 July 2012}}{{cite news|title=K. Sri Pavan sworn in as new Chief Justice|url=http://www.nation.lk/edition/latest-top-stories/item/37818-k-sri-pavan-sworn-in-as-new-chief-justice.html|work=The Nation (Sri Lanka)|date=30 January 2015|archive-date=14 July 2015|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714023051/http://www.nation.lk/edition/latest-top-stories/item/37818-k-sri-pavan-sworn-in-as-new-chief-justice.html|url-status=dead}} He is the son of Nadaraja Kanagasabapathy, an employee of Kankesanthurai Cement Factory. He was educated at Jaffna Hindu College between 1962 and 1972.{{cite news|last1=Balachandran|first1=P. K.|title=Sripavan Second Tamil to Become Lankan Chief Justice|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sripavan-Second-Tamil-to-Become-Lankan-Chief-Justice/2015/01/29/article2642696.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130081911/http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sripavan-Second-Tamil-to-Become-Lankan-Chief-Justice/2015/01/29/article2642696.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2015|work=The New Indian Express|date=29 January 2015}} He joined Sri Lanka Law College in 1974 and passed out as an attorney at law in 1976, obtaining a first class in the Intermediate Examination.
Career
After qualifying Sripavan enrolled as an attorney-at-law on 23 August 1977 and practised law at the unofficial Bar of Sri Lanka between 1977 and 1978.{{cite news|last1=Rubatheesan|first1=S.|title='Today will be remembered as the day when time and nature brought about justice': CJ 43|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150201/news/today-will-be-remembered-as-the-day-when-time-and-nature-brought-about-justice-cj-43-133244.html|work=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=1 February 2015}} He then joined the Attorney General's Department as an acting State Counsel on 13 February 1978. He became a permanent State Counsel on 1 January 1979.{{cite news|last1=Warnakulasuriya|first1=Deepal|title=Sripavan; the next Chief Justice|url=http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/37796-sripavan-the-next-chief-justice.html|work=The Nation (Sri Lanka)|date=29 January 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|access-date=30 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031718/http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/37796-sripavan-the-next-chief-justice.html|url-status=dead}} He was promoted to Senior State Counsel on 3 March 1989.
Sripavan was appointed Deputy Solicitor General on 22 February 1996. He was the head of the Court of Appeal Unit and worked on Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court cases including Bills and Fundamental Rights applications.{{cite news|title=News Justice Sripavan appointed CJ 44|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150201/news/justice-sripavan-appointed-cj-44-133245.html|work=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=1 February 2015}} He supervised state counsels and revenue matters. Sripavan continued his legal studies whilst working, obtaining a diploma in Industrial Law from the University of Colombo in 1992 and Master of Laws from the Queen Mary and Westfield College, part of the University of London, in 1994.
Sripavan was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal on 29 May 2002. He went on to become president of the Court of Appeal on 5 March 2007.{{cite news|last=Malalasekera|first=Sarath|title=No Court can function without industrious Bar - Justice Salaam|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/03/23/news30.asp|newspaper=Daily News (Sri Lanka)|date=23 March 2007|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728230035/http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/03/23/news30.asp|archive-date=28 July 2012|url-status=dead}} He was appointed to the Supreme Court on 27 March 2008, replacing retiring Justice Nihal Jayasinghe.{{cite news|last=Malalasekera|first=Sarath|title=Bench, Bar welcome new Supreme Court Judge Justice K. Sripavan|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/13/news25.asp|newspaper=Daily News (Sri Lanka)|date=13 May 2008|access-date=2 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517022122/http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/05/13/news25.asp|archive-date=17 May 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Samarasinghe|first=Sonali|title=President caught in a judicial bind|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/archive/20080323/issues.htm|newspaper=The Sunday Leader|date=23 March 2008}} He was acting Chief Justice on three occasions.
=Chief justice=
In January 2013 43rd Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake was controversially impeached by the Parliament of Sri Lanka.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake is impeached|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20982990|work=BBC News|date=11 January 2013}} Bandaranayake was subsequently removed from office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.{{cite news|title=CJ receives order of removal|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/24956-cj-receives-order-of-removal.html|newspaper=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|date=13 January 2013}}{{cite news|title=President removes CJ|url=http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/14645-president-removes-cj.html|newspaper=The Nation (Sri Lanka)|date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201175926/http://www.nation.lk/edition/breaking-news/item/14645-president-removes-cj.html|archivedate=1 February 2013}} Attorney General Mohan Peiris was appointed chief justice by Rajapaksa.{{cite news|title=New Sri Lanka chief justice Mohan Peiris sworn in amid opposition|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21022854|newspaper=BBC News|date=15 January 2013}}{{cite news|last=Bulathsinghala|first=Frances|title=New CJ of Sri Lanka sworn in|url=http://dawn.com/2013/01/16/new-cj-of-sri-lanka-sworn-in/|newspaper=Dawn|date=16 January 2013}} Rajapaksa lost the 2015 presidential election after which the government led by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena ruled that Bandaranayake's removal was "null and void" as it had not followed proper procedure.{{cite news|last1=March|first1=Stephanie|title=Sri Lanka reinstates impeached chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-29/sri-lanka-reinstates-impeached-chief-justice/6054176|work=ABC News (Australia)|date=29 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka's new president reverses 'revenge politics' of Rajapaksa regime|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/29/sri-lankas-new-president-reverses-revenge-politics-of-rajapaksa-regime|work=The Guardian|agency=Associated Press|date=29 January 2015}} Peiris was sent a letter stating that his appointment had been illegal and then Bandaranayake was re-instated as chief justice on 28 January 2015.{{cite news|title=Sri Lankan President appoints Tamil as Chief Justice|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lankan-president-appoints-tamil-as-chief-justice/article6842114.ece|work=The Hindu|agency=Press Trust of India|date=31 January 2015}} Peiris however claims that his removal from office is unconstitutional, saying that he neither retired, resigned or vacated office.{{cite news|last1=Balachandran|first1=P. K.|title=Sacked Lankan Chief Justice Says His Removal Was Unconstitutional|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sacked-Lankan-Chief-Justice-Says-His-Removal-Was-Unconstitutional/2015/01/31/article2646080.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124033616/http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sacked-Lankan-Chief-Justice-Says-His-Removal-Was-Unconstitutional/2015/01/31/article2646080.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2015|work=The New Indian Express|date=31 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=My removal unlawful, claims Peiris|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150201/news/my-removal-unlawful-claims-peiris-133243.html|work=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=1 February 2015}}{{cite news|title="I have not retired, resigned or vacated office:" Mohan Peiris|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=118733|work=Sunday Island (Sri Lanka)|date=1 February 2015}}
After resuming her position Bandaranayake announced that she would retire the following day - 29 January 2015.{{cite news|last1=Balachandran|first1=P. K.|title=Sirisena Sacks Chief Justice Peiris and Reinstates Bandaranayake|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sirisena-Sacks-Chief-Justice-Peiris-and-Reinstates-Bandaranayake/2015/01/28/article2641056.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123200417/http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sirisena-Sacks-Chief-Justice-Peiris-and-Reinstates-Bandaranayake/2015/01/28/article2641056.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2015|work=The New Indian Express|date=28 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=Shirani retires; Sripavan to be appointed CJ today|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=118588|work=The Island (Sri Lanka)|date=30 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka reinstates Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31021540|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2015}} Sripavan was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 44th chief justice on 30 January 2015.{{cite news|title=Tamil Sripavan appointed Sri Lanka's top judge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31068699|work=BBC News|date=30 January 2015}}{{cite news|title=Sripavan sworn in as CJ|url=http://www.dailymirror.lk/62585/sripavan-sworn-in-as-cj|work=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|date=30 January 2015}} He retired as chief justice on 28 February 2017.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka: Chief Justice retires next Tuesday|url=http://www.slguardian.org/2017/02/sri-lanka-chief-justice-retires-next-tuesday/|work=Sri Lanka Guardian|date=24 February 2017|archive-date=1 May 2017|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501195115/https://www.slguardian.org/2017/02/sri-lanka-chief-justice-retires-next-tuesday/|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before=Shirani Bandaranayake}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chief Justice of Sri Lanka|years=2015–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=Priyasath Dep}}
|-
{{s-prec|sri}}
{{s-bef|before=Mahinda Rajapaksa|as=Former President}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of Precedence of Sri Lanka
as Chief Justice of Sri Lanka|years=2015–2017}}
{{s-aft|after=Prasanna Ranatunga|as=Chief Minister of Western Province}}
{{s-end}}
{{Chief Justice of Sri Lanka}}
{{Sripavan-court}}
{{Bandaranayake-court2}}
{{Peiris-court}}
{{Bandaranayake-court}}
{{Asoka de Silva-court}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sripavan, K.}}
Category:21st-century Sri Lankan people
Category:Alumni of Jaffna Hindu College
Category:Alumni of Queen Mary University of London
Category:Alumni of Sri Lanka Law College
Category:Chief justices of Sri Lanka
Category:Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka judges
Category:People from Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Category:Presidents of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
Category:Puisne justices of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka