20 years at the Bar now mandatory for President's Counsel appointment

The Government has made 20 years of enrolment as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka a mandatory qualification for appointment as a President's Counsel (PC), according to a Gazette Extraordinary issued yesterday.

The amendment, published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2498/76 dated July 24, 2026, revises the guidelines governing appointments as President's Counsel under the direction of the President in terms of powers vested by Article 33(e) of the Constitution.

The Gazette repeals and replaces Guideline No. 4 of the existing guidelines published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2255/24 of November 24, 2021.

Under the revised guideline, only Attorneys-at-Law who have been enrolled with the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka for a minimum period of 20 years will be eligible for appointment as President's Counsel.

The notification, issued by the Presidential Secretariat and signed by Secretary to the President Dr. N. S. Kumanayake, formalises the minimum professional experience requirement for lawyers seeking the prestigious appointment.

Meanwhile, the Gazette calling for applications for appointments as President's Counsel for 2026 has also been published.

Eligible Attorneys-at-Law have been invited to submit applications on or before August 31, 2026, for consideration for appointment as President's Counsel.