S. Thurairaja
Puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (2019–2026)
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Sithambarampillai Thurairaja, PC (Tamil: சிதம்பரப்பிள்ளை துரைராஜா, romanized: Citamparappiḷḷai Turairājā; born 19 March 1961) is a Sri Lankan lawyer who served as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka from 9 January 2019 to 19 March 2026. He was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena.
19 March 1961
S. Thurairaja | |
|---|---|
எஸ். துரைராஜா | |
| Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 9 January 2019 – 19 March 2026 | |
| Appointed by | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Preceded by | K. T. Chitrasiri |
| Judge of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 15 September 2016 – 9 January 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sithambarampillai Thurairaja 19 March 1961 |
| Education | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
He was formerly a justice of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka and High Court of Fiji.
Early life
Thurairaja was educated at Saraswathy Maha Vidyalayam in Pussellawa and St. Anthony's College, Kandy.[1][2] He has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Colombo and a Master of Laws degree from the University of London.[3] He also holds diplomas in forensic medicine, business information technology and computer appliances.[3]
Career
Thurairaja qualified as an attorney-at-law in 1988 and joined the Attorney General's Department in 1989.[4] He rose up the ranks to become Senior State Counsel, Deputy Solicitor General and Additional Solicitor General.[5][6][7] He was a high court judge in Fiji.[8][9] He was appointed President's Counsel in 2016.[4]
Thurairaja was appointed to the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka in September 2016, becoming the first Indian Tamil to be appointed to the court.[2][4] In October 2018 the Constitutional Council recommended that Thurairaja be appointed to the Supreme Court.[10] President Maithripala Sirisena refused to follow the recommendation and suggested alternative names but in January 2019 the Constitutional Council reconfirmed its recommendation of Thurairaja.[11][12] He was sworn in as a justice of the Supreme Court on 9 January 2019.[13][14]
Thurairaja retired on 19 March 2026.[15] In Sri Lanka, the mandatory retirement age for a puisne justice of the Supreme Court or the chief justice is 65 years.[16]
Commission assignments
In September 2025, Thurairaja was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), filling the vacancy created by the retirement of former Chief Justice Murdu Fernando.[17]
Notes
- "Hon. Justice S. Thurairaja, PC". Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 23 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
