Applications have been called for the appointment of President's Counsel (PC) for 2026, following the issuance of an Extraordinary Gazette introducing revised guidelines for the selection process.
The Extraordinary Gazette, dated 24 July 2026, was issued by the Secretary to the President on the instructions of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, amending a key provision in the existing framework governing the appointment of President's Counsel.
Appointments will continue to be made under Article 33(e) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, with the Gazette outlining the updated eligibility criteria and application procedure.
According to the revised guidelines, applicants must be Attorneys-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and demonstrate professional seniority, integrity, good character, and distinguished contributions to the legal profession, public service, or at national and international levels.
Candidates must also satisfy several ethical and professional requirements, including not having violated the Constitution, engaged in conduct detrimental to the independence of the judiciary, been subjected to professional disciplinary action, been found guilty of contempt of court, or been convicted of a serious criminal offence.
Among the mandatory eligibility criteria are a minimum of 20 years of practice as an Attorney-at-Law in Sri Lanka and registration as an income taxpayer with the Inland Revenue Department for at least five years immediately preceding the submission of the application.
The Gazette further states that additional qualifications—such as publishing legal books and scholarly articles, conducting legal research, university teaching, and other academic contributions to the field of law—will also be taken into consideration during the evaluation process.
Completed applications, together with the required supporting documents, must be sent by registered post to The Secretary to the President, Presidential Secretariat, Colombo 01, on or before 31 August 2026.
