K. Sripavan

Kanagasabapathy J. Sripavan ( Kaṉakacapāpati Ciṟīpavaṉ, ; born 29 February 1952) is a Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and judge. He was Deputy Solicitor General, judge and president of the Court of Appeal, Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and the 44th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.

Early life and family Sripavan was born on 29 February 1952. He is the son of Nadaraja Kanagasabapathy, an employee of Kankesanthurai Cement Factory. He was educated at Jaffna Hindu College between 1962 and 1972. He joined Sri Lanka Law College in 1974 and passed out as an attorney at law in 1976, obtaining a first class in the Intermediate Examination. He then joined the Attorney General's Department as an acting State Counsel on 13 February 1978. He was promoted to Senior State Counsel on 3 March 1989. He supervised state counsels and revenue matters. He was appointed to the Supreme Court on 27 March 2008, replacing retiring Justice Nihal Jayasinghe. He was acting Chief Justice on three occasions. Bandaranayake was subsequently removed from office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Attorney General Mohan Peiris was appointed chief justice by Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa lost the 2015 presidential election after which the government led by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena ruled that Bandaranayake's removal was "null and void" as it had not followed proper procedure. Peiris was sent a letter stating that his appointment had been illegal and then Bandaranayake was re-instated as chief justice on 28 January 2015. Peiris however claims that his removal from office is unconstitutional, saying that he neither retired, resigned or vacated office.

After resuming her position Bandaranayake announced that she would retire the following day - 29 January 2015. Sripavan was sworn in as Sri Lanka's 44th chief justice on 30 January 2015. He retired as chief justice on 28 February 2017.