His appointment follows the retirement of former Chief Justice, Justice Murdu Nirupa Bidushinie Fernando. The Constitutional Council recently approved Justice Surasena’s nomination to fill the vacancy.
Justice Surasena began his legal career after being called to the Bar in 1989, later joining the Attorney General’s Department as a State Counsel. In 2007, he was appointed as a High Court Judge.
He went on to serve as a Judge of the Court of Appeal in 2016, and was elevated to President of the Court of Appeal in 2018. In 2019, he was appointed to the Supreme Court bench.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Justice, Justice Surasena served as the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court, following the retirement of Chief Justice Fernando.
