The Constitutional Council has unanimously approved the nomination of Senior Additional Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe as the new Attorney General.
Ranasinghe took oaths as the Acting Attorney General before the Chief Justice on July 1, following the rejection of a proposal to extend former Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam’s term by another six months.
The appointment has sparked controversy, with accusations that the government overlooked Senior Additional Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena, despite her seniority and qualifications, due to alleged gender bias. Critics argue that Jinasena was the rightful candidate for the role.
Responding to these allegations, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake stated that there is no constitutional requirement to appoint the senior-most officer from the Attorney General’s Department based on seniority. He clarified that under Article 41C of the Constitution, the President has the authority to appoint the Attorney General with the Constitutional Council’s approval.
Despite the controversy, the government maintains that the appointment of Parinda Ranasinghe adheres to constitutional provisions and is a decision made within the bounds of executive powers.
