Jaya Pathirana

Jaya Pathirana (18 April 1921 – 25 May 2000) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and member of parliament from 1961 to 1964. He also served as justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Jaya Pathirana MP
Member of the Ceylon Parliament for Kurunegala
In office 1961–1965
Preceded by	D. B. Monnekulama
Succeeded by	D. B. Welagedara
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
In office 1972–1978
Personal details
Born	(1921-04-18)18 April 1921
Died	25 May 2000(2000-05-25) (aged 79)
Political party	Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Alma mater	Jaffna Central College St. Patrick's College, Jaffna
Profession	Lawyer

Early life

Pathirana was educated at Jaffna Central College and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.^[1][2]

Career

Pathirana joined the legal profession after university and served as a defence counsel in different parts of the country.^[1]

D. B. Monnekulama, the sitting Member of Parliament, was removed from office on 20 December 1960 after being found guilty by the Bribery Commission.^[3] Pathirana contested the ensuing by-election as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and was elected to Parliament on 29 March 1961.^[1][4]

Pathirana was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972 Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, leader of the SLFP.^[1][5] He held that position until 1978 when the new constitution removed all serving Supreme Court and High Court judges from office.^[6][7]