|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Death of Justice Asoka de Z. Gunawardena Justice Dr. Asoka de Zoysa Gunawardena passed away Friday night after a brief illness. In 1999 , Justice Gunawardena was elected by the General Assembly of the United Nations as judge to represent Sri Lanka at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). Consequently, he was appointed to the joint appeal chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY) where former President Slobodan Milosevic stood trial. These two tribunals are the highest international courts set up by the United Nations to establish and enforce international law with regard to genocide. Among his many contributions to the law is a landmark judgement in the "Media Trial" where he defined the freedom of the press during war time. He was elected by the General Assembly of the United Nations for a second term of four years to the ICTR in 2003.From 1989 to 1999 he served as a judge of the Court of Appeal and then as a judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He retired prematurely from the Supreme Court to accept appointment as a judge of the International Tribunal. During his career he represented Sri Lanka at many international law conferences in the USA, Greece Sweden, India and China. He was admitted and enrolled as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1967. Joining the Attorney General's Department as a State Counsel, he rose to the position of Deputy Solicitor General before assuming judicial office. He completed his PhD in international Investment Law in 1983 at the University of Sydney. He holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of Colombo. He had a brilliant academic career at St. Thomas and Law college where he won many prizes and scholarships. He received his primary education at Revatha Vidyalaya,Balapitiya. He is survived by his wife Kanthie and children Onil and Chandima. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
