KAMALASABEYSON AWARD FOR LAW & TAMIL LITTERATURE !

Kamalasabayson Memorial Oration!

By Pasan Fernando /dailymirror.lk

Former Attoney General the late K. C. Kamalasabayson was commemorated on Saturday at a solemn ceremony where a memorial volume was launched and an award was presented for legal studies.

The Kandapper Chinniah Kamalasabayson Memorial Oration was delivered at the commemoration ceremony at the HNB Towers by the Supreme Court Judge Saleem Marsoof. The event was graced by the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Attorney General C. R. De Silva, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. W Duarte and the Principal, Sri Lanka Law College W. D. Rodrigo.

The Memorial Oration to mark the first year remembrance of the former Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabayson was organized by his beloved wife and daughter, Mrs. Ramani Kamalasabayson and Ms. Vidhya Kamalasabayson. The ceremony scheduled to be held on August 12, exactly an year after his death had to be postponed due to the SAARC conference

Mr. Kamalasabayson also known as Kamale to his school mates, and Saba to his colleagues was an old boy of Hindu Primary School (now the Hindu College) and St. Thomas’ College. After completing his secondary education, he entered the Sri Lanka Law College and passed out as an advocate with first-class Honours. He then joined the Attorney General’s Department as a State Counsel in 1974, and went on to obtain his Master of Laws, Public Law at the University of Colombo, and his Master of Laws, International Business Law, from the University of London.

Mr. Kamalasabayson through hard work, efficiency and ability rose steadily up the ranks to the positions of State Counsel, Senior State Counsel and Deputy Solicitor General and thereafter as Additional Solicitor General in 1996 and Solicitor General in 1998.In 1999, he was made Attorney General. Furthermore, he was a visiting lecturer and examiner in the Sri Lanka Law College and also a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo. Mr. Kamalasabayson had a clear legal mind, and never strayed with irrelevancies.

Speaking at the event , the Attorney General C.R De Silva said the late Mr. Kamalasabayson’s greatest gift was his intuition. “He lived his life serving his country and strived for justice” he said. The Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva who was of personal acquaintance with Mr. Kamalasabayson spoke of Mr. Kamalasabayson’s passion for Public Law. Judge of the Supreme Court Mr. Saleem Marsoof who was the keynote speaker said, “He was my friend, a philosopher and guide to younger generations”.

A collection of legal essay written by various lawyers in memory of Mr. Kamalasabayson titled ‘In Pursuit of Justice- with heart and soul’ was presented by Ms.Vidhya Kamalasabayson to Mr. Saleem Marsoof. The front cover was drawn and designed by the loving hands of Mr. Kamalasabayson’s wife Ramani Kamalasabayson.

The event also marked the presentation of the first K.C. Kamalasabayson award which was awarded to Althaf Marsoof for his work ‘Doctrine of Separation of Powers and the Independence of the Judiciary in the Modern Constitutional Setting of Sri Lanka”. Niran Anketell and Chathura Galhena were also mentioned for their outstanding works. Althaf Marsoof currently works as a State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Department.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror ,Widhya Kamalasabayson said “The foundation was set up because we did not want my father,s work to be forgotten easily. The foundation will enhance the ability of legal research and young law students. We have also awarded St. Thomas’ a special award for Tamil Literature which would be awarded annually”. All the money from the publication will be brought back into the foundation for the betterment of young lawyers Ms. Widhya said.