Sumathi Dharmawardena retires after decades at the Attorney General’s Department, leaving a legacy in law, sport and public service.
Sumathi Dharmawardena retires after decades of public service, ending a distinguished career in Sri Lanka’s Attorney General’s Department and national legal life.
Senior Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Sumathi Dharmawardena held the third-highest position in Sri Lanka’s Attorney General’s Department.
The word “distinguished” cannot be applied to everyone. But his long service to the country through the Attorney General’s Department makes him fully deserving of that description.
I first met him at the end of the last century and the beginning of this one.
At that time, our department had seized nearly USD 200,000 that was allegedly being secretly smuggled out through Bandaranaike International Airport.
Following investigations carried out by our department, the money was confiscated by the state and a fine was imposed on the individual involved.
However, that decision was later challenged in court.
At the time, the Attorney General’s Department represented us through Sumathi Dharmawardena, who was then serving as a senior legal officer.
When our department handles such cases, we are legally entitled to receive a significant percentage of the value involved as a reward under an ordinance.
However, lawyers from the Attorney General’s Department do not receive such benefits.
Despite that, he never hesitated to take the matter all the way to the Supreme Court to ensure the case was successfully concluded.
His commitment was greater than even that shown by some officers within our own department.
That was when I truly understood the kind of person he was.
Over the years, he steadily rose through the ranks of the Attorney General’s Department.
He eventually became a President’s Counsel and reached the third-highest position in the department.
His role in representing the Attorney General’s Department in several high-profile cases in recent years has been exceptional.
One such incident involved the controversial ruling by the Commercial High Court to detain a Russian aircraft.
The matter was rapidly escalating into a diplomatic crisis.
Had he not acted swiftly by appearing before the Commercial High Court and presenting urgent facts that led to the reversal of that ruling, the country could have faced a serious crisis.
I also remember how he appeared before the Jaffna High Court and presented clear and decisive arguments to prevent an extremist political group from holding a terrorist commemoration event in the North.
At that time, several of the country’s most prominent President’s Counsel appeared for the opposing side.
There was also an occasion when he played a leading role in preventing sanctions against Sri Lankan rugby by World Rugby.
He did so by presenting facts through the Attorney General’s Department.
Throughout his career, he maintained the highest standards of professional integrity.
As a result, he earned recognition beyond Sri Lanka as well.
The International Cricket Council selected him as a legal advisor, likely due to his professionalism, discipline and expertise.
He currently serves as the independent chair of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Committee.
Notably, in the 25-year history of that position, he became the first Asian to be appointed to the role.
Before him, the position had been held for 14 consecutive years by Sir Henry Fagan.
He also played a key role in drafting Sri Lanka’s first law on sports corruption prevention in South Asia, Act No. 24 of 2019, which was enacted in Sri Lanka in 2019.
His contribution to that landmark law may also be one of the reasons why the ICC later awarded him a special position.
He is someone who deeply respects the country, its institutions, history and culture.
He was also the first chairman of the Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association.
In addition, he has served as an active member and official of the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress.
We will always respect his efforts to uphold the dignity of his profession while dedicating his career to the progress and well-being of the country.
He also comes from a military family.
He is married to a daughter of former Sri Lankan Army Commander Hamilton Wanasinghe.
He is also a relative of Vijaya Wimalaratne, a name that remains unforgettable in Sri Lanka’s history.
He is further related to several war heroes, including Sanjaya Wanasinghe, Chandana Somawera, Bhathiya Jayatilaka, Nalin Jayatilaka and Panduka Wanasinghe.
It may be this family background that inspired him to serve the country with such dedication in his own profession.
It has now been learned that he is retiring early, despite still having time left in his service.
For more than three decades, he served the Attorney General’s Department and the country with distinction.
Thank you for your remarkable service to Sri Lanka.
