German lawyer to apprentice in Sri Lanka

By Sarath Malalasekera

Bernhard Ehreke, a law graduate from Germany has decided to do his legal training and apprentice period in Sri Lanka, as he is fond of this country.

Despite the adverse publicity given to Sri Lanka in the Western media, Bernhard has been confident that Sri Lanka would be a safe and beautiful country to visit.

Bernhard had opted to undergo the final phase of his compulsory 'Legal Training' involving his chosen specialisation, Criminal Law under former lecturer, examiner at the Sri Lanka Law College and former Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President, Upali Gooneratne. Unlike the majority of his colleagues who had selected a practitioner or a firm in a developed country like his own, Bernhard has instead chosen Sri Lanka.

Bernhard considers it a pleasure and a privilege to undergo legal training abroad in Upali Gooneratne's chambers in Sri Lanka.

Bernhard is due to face his final oral examination, "Interrogation" lasting five hours, on his return to Germany. If he can pass the Final Written Examination which he sat for last year, he will then qualify as an Attorney-at-Law, ending a gruelling learning and training period spanning seven or more long years.