Hema Henry Basnayake

Hema Henry Basnayake, QC (3 August 1902 – ?) was the 31st Chief Justice of Ceylon as well as the 29th Attorney General and 16th Solicitor General.[1] He was appointed in 1956 succeeding acting Chellappah Nagalingam and was Chief Justice until 1964.

Hema Henry Basnayake QC
31st Chief Justice of Ceylon
In office 1 January 1956 – 31 July 1964
Appointed by	Viscount Soulbury
Preceded by	Alan Rose Chellappah Nagalingam as acting
Succeeded by	Miliani Sansoni
29th Attorney General of Sri Lanka
In office 11 October 1951 – 31 December 1955
Preceded by	Edward Percival Rose
Succeeded by	Edward Fredrick Noel Gratiaen
16th Solicitor General of Sri Lanka
In office 1 March 1946 – 1947
Preceded by	J. M. Fonseka
Succeeded by	M. F. S. Pulle
Personal details
Born	(1902-08-03)3 August 1902
Died	Unknown

Legal career

Basnayake was admitted as an Advocate on 9 March 1927. Starting is legal practice in the Unofficial Bar, he acted as an Crown Counsel on several occasions between May 1928 to June 1932. On 20 June 1932, he was appointed Crown Counsel. From Oct 1937 to September 1937, he served as Commissioner for preparation and revision of the Legislative Enactments of Ceylon. In 1939, he served as acting Assistant Legal Draftsman and was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel on 1 October 1944. During this time he served on several occasions as acting Solicitor General. On 1 March 1945 he was appointed Solicitor General and served as acting Attorney General on several occasions. On 23 October 1947 he was appointed a Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Ceylon. On 11 October 1951 he was appointed Attorney General and held the position until 31 December 1955.[2] He prosecuted journalist Herbert Hulugalle on charge of contempt of court and secured a conviction resulting in a two day jail sentence for Hulugalle. Hulugalle was defended by J. R. Jayewardene.[3]

On 1 January 1956, he was appointed Chief Justice of Ceylon, succeeding Sir Alan Rose and held the position until his retirement on 31 July 1964.[4] He was succeeded by Miliani Sansoni.[5]

He was appointed a Queen's Counsel. He succeeded Peter de Abrew as a trustee of Musaeus College in 1940 and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

References

1. "Eminent Judges of Sri Lanka: H.H. Basnayake, QC.CJ". Dailynews.lk. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
2. The Ceylon Civil List 1954. Ceylon: The Government Press.
3. "A Patriarch of the Press". Island. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
4. "Eminent Judges of Sri Lanka: H.H. Basnayake, QC.CJ". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
5. "Overview". Judicial Service Commission Secretariat. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

Legal offices
Preceded by Alan Rose Chellappah Nagalingam as acting	Chief Justice of Ceylon 1956-1964	Succeeded by Miliani Sansoni
Preceded by Edward Percival Rose	Attorney General of Ceylon 1951-1956	Succeeded by Edward Fredrick Noel Gratiaen
Preceded by J. M. Fonseka	Solicitor General of Ceylon 1946-1947	Succeeded by M. F. S. Pulle