U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison joined today with the family of the late Dr. H.W. Jayewardene and members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to inaugurate a newly-renovated auditorium named in honor of Dr. Jayewardene, the first president of BASL.

Attorney General Palitha Fernando also attended the ceremony, which included a tribute to Dr. Jayewardene and his efforts to support the development of a strong professional legal community in Sri Lanka.

“This auditorium honors the memory of the late Dr. Jayewardene and will serve as a venue to promote the values he upheld,” said Ambassador Sison. “Under our USAID Civil Society Initiatives to Promote the Rule of Law program, we have partnered with BASL to help protect and strengthen the rule of law and safeguard citizens' rights.  The auditorium will be put to very good use as the venue for the Bar Association’s continuing legal education programs.”

BASL and the American Bar Association are cooperating in continuing legal education, exchange visits, and information exchange.  Recent continuing legal education topics undertaken by BASL have included the use of forensics in criminal cases; labor law; labor migration issues; and trafficking in persons matters.

Dr. Jayewardene’s served as one of the founders and first presidents of BASL.  Already appointed Queen’s Counsel by the age of 37, he later held numerous appointments, including as the President of LAWASIA, Vice President of the Commonwealth Law Association, Chairman of the Law Commission, and Board Member of the Council of Legal Education and the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo. Support from USAID and the Jayewardene family transformed the venue into a state-of-the-art auditorium with additional seating, a new stage, an advanced sound system and lighting equipment.