Padman Surasena

Preethi Padman Surasena is a Sri Lankan lawyer serving since 27 July 2025 as the 49th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. He was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Career Surasena joined the Attorney General's Department of Sri Lanka and served as a Senior State Counsel.

On 15 January 2018, he was appointed as the 46th president of the Court of Appeal by President Sirisena.

Chief justice of Sri Lanka On 22 July 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake nominated Surasena for appointment as the next chief justice, following the retirement of Murdu Fernando on 27 July. The nomination was considered and ratified by the Constitutional Council on 23 July.

On 27 July, Surasena was sworn in as the 49th chief justice of Sri Lanka by President Dissanayake.

On 11 December 2025, during an official visit to India, Surasena was accorded a ceremonial sitting at the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.

Commission assignments On 10 March 2015, President Sirisena appointed Surasena as the chairman of Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC).

In January 2025, Surasena was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), filling the vacancy created by the retirement of former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. He became chairman of the commission on 27 July 2025, following the retirement of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and his own elevation to the post. A complaint was subsequently lodged with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against three Supreme Court judges, alleging their actions resulted in nearly US$999 million in X-Press Pearl compensation not being recovered; the allegations have not been established and no judge has been found guilty of wrongdoing. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya asked Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne what steps he intended to take over the allegations, and whether action would follow against those responsible if they proved false.