Minister of Justice (Sri Lanka)

The Minister Justice, Public Administration, Provincial Councils, Local Government and Labour is an appointment in the Cabinet of Sri Lanka.

Minister of Justice and National Integration of Sri Lanka
since 18 November 2024
Minister of Justice and National Integration
NominatorThe Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
AppointerThe President of Sri Lanka
Formation26 September 1947
Websitewww.moj.gov.lk

The constitution defines that it is mandatory for a minister of the cabinet to be styled as the Minister of Justice. From 1947 to 1970, per section 48 of the constitution, the Minister of Justice was one of two Ministers appointed from the Senate of Ceylon, as such appointments have been held by Advocates.[1] It succeeded the office of Legal Secretary of Ceylon which existed from 1932 to 1947.

List of Justice Ministers

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Parties

  Sri Lanka Freedom Party   United National Party   Sri Lanka Muslim Congress   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna   National People's Power

Name Portrait Party Tenure Head(s) of Government
Sir Lalita Rajapaksa, QC United National Party 26 September 1947 – 1953 D. S. Senanayake
Dudley Senanayake
E. B. Wikramanayake, QC United National Party 1953 – 1956 John Kotelawala
M. W. H. de Silva, QC Sri Lanka Freedom Party 1956 – June 1959 S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Valentine S. Jayawickrema Sri Lanka Freedom Party June 1959 – 1960
Wijeyananda Dahanayake
E. J. Cooray United National Party 23 March 1960 – 21 July 1960 Dudley Senanayake
Sam P. C. Fernando Sri Lanka Freedom Party 23 July 1960 – March 1965 Sirimavo Bandaranaike
A. F. Wijemanne United National Party March 1965 – 1970 Dudley Senanayake
Felix Dias Bandaranaike Sri Lanka Freedom Party 1970 – 1976 Sirimavo Bandaranaike
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake   Sri Lanka Freedom Party 1976 – 1977
K. W. Devanayagam United National Party 23 July 1977 – 14 February 1980 J. R. Jayewardene
Nissanka Wijeyeratne   United National Party 14 February 1980 – 1988
Vincent Perera United National Party 1989 – 1990 Ranasinghe Premadasa
Abdul Cader Shahul Hameed United National Party 1990 – 1993
Harold Herath United National Party 1993 – 1994 Dingiri Banda Wijetunga
G. L. Peiris   Sri Lanka Freedom Party 1994 – 2001 Chandrika Kumaratunga
W. J. M. Lokubandara   United National Party 2001 – 2004
John Seneviratne Sri Lanka Freedom Party 2004 - 2006


Amarasiri Dodangoda 2006 – 30 May 2009
Mahinda Rajapaksa
Milinda Moragoda Sri Lanka Freedom Party 30 May 2009 – 23 April 2010
Athauda Seneviratne Sri Lanka Freedom Party 23 April 2010 – 22 November 2010
Rauff Hakeem   Sri Lanka Muslim Congress 22 November 2010 – 28 December 2014
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC   United National Party 12 January 2015 - 23 August 2017 Maithripala Sirisena
Thalatha Atukorale   United National Party 25 August 2017 - 22 November 2019
Nimal Siripala de Silva   Sri Lanka Freedom Party 22 November 2019 - 12 August 2020 Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Ranil Wickremesinghe
Ali Sabry, PC   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 12 August 2020 - 3 April 2022 Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Office Vacant 3 April 2022 - 26 April 2022 Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Ali Sabry, PC   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 26 April 2022 - 9 May 2022 Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC   Independent 20 May 2022 - 29 July 2024 Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe [2]
Ali Sabry, PC   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 12 August 2024 - 23 September 2024 Ranil Wickremesinghe [3]
Harini Amarasuriya National People's Power 24 September 2024 – 18 November 2024 Anura Kumara Dissanayake [4]
Harshana Nanayakkara National People's Power 18 November 2024 – Present [5]


See also

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References

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  1. ^ fergusons-ceylon-directory (PDF). historyofceylontea.lk. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Sri Lanka appoints nine new cabinet ministers". EconomyNext. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  3. ^ "Ali Sabry takes oath as new Justice Minister". Ada Derana. 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  4. ^ "Harini Amarasuriya sworn in as Prime Minister - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  5. ^ "Harshana Nanayakkara sworn in as Minister of Justice - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
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