The appointment of Upul Jayasuriya as the Chairman of the Board of Investments has been heavily criticised by many who have pointed out that it could results in issues regarding conflict of interest while pointing out that the acceptance of the position by him, is unethical.
Upul Jayasuriya
Jayasuriya who is the outgoing Chairman of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, was appointed as the BOI Chairman few days ago by President Maithripala Sirisena. However, this appointment has raised questions as concerns have arisen as to where his interests would lie since he is also a presently practicing senior commercial lawyer.
Jaysuriya was appointed as the BASL Chairman during the Rajapaksa regime, one of the most challenging periods for legal practitioners.
Related posts;
BASL Pleads For Time On Sirisena Giving Police Powers To Armed Forces
Namal Baba / February 7, 2015
Aiyyo Sirisena, Thava Ekkak Dha?
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SL_Frankfurt / February 7, 2015
Please CT, dont let any amok runners among the commetators to add their malicious comments. Why to call the PRESIDENT AYYO SIRISENA ? He is great son of the nation who had every gut to jump on to fast moving train – and saved the nation. Was that not a biggest risk that a politician could make ? Suppose MR won the match, do you think MS and his family would have been safe ? No, MR and thugs did the same to CBK and anyone they thought was emerging against – cornered from the media. That is the dangerous reality of the rascals. Please DO take actions to keep the this forum even more valuable to those who respect dignified life.
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Ram / February 7, 2015
He is a lawyer. He is not likely to do something unethical. Besides if a lawyer is good enough to be the head of the IMF why not the BOI.
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gengis khan / February 7, 2015
@Ram:
“He is a lawyer. He is not likely to do something unethical”
This is the joke of the year; And you happen to be the joker of all
time. If you want proof, just make a trip to Hulftsdorph and see how the black-suited vultures there twist every word of the law to their convenience, just to win a case. You are not just an idiot but an idiot without a brain. We can really depend on people like you to set a fox to guard the chicken coup.
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Ram / February 7, 2015
It was a tongue in the cheek comment.
I DO know Sri Lankan lawyers. I see that you are a newcomer to the site, and you’ve obviously missed what I have said about the guy in earlier posts (unless you’ve come here for the sole purpose of heaping abuse).
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gengis khan / February 8, 2015
@Ram
Sorry for misreading you. I wasnt here to heap abuse on anyone but was so incensed with the wrong assumption that you were supporting the nefarious activities of the black-suited vulture fraternity. Please accept my apologies. I need to wear the dunce’s cap this time. Have a nice day.
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Native Vedda / February 8, 2015
gengis khan
MR, Namal, Mohan Peiris, Nelumdeniya, Thilina Gamage, are lawyers too.
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Perakadoru / February 8, 2015
“MR, Namal, Mohan Peiris, Nelumdeniya, Thilina Gamage, are lawyers
too. “
Thanks to Rodrigo ? Hic…. hic….
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bucky / February 8, 2015
well said sir .i dont think the new government should bring itself to disrepute by appoints that will have conflict of interests .even the brother of the president is now the head of tele-com so i would like to say that mr wickramasinghe and mr sirisena came to power to get rid of courruption,nepotism and favouration so they should practice what they preached .what we need is to see those responcible for break of law ,corruption including some in the present government has to be punished .also the punishment first should to the top echelons who are been investigated and not to be started from the bottom as usually done and the top escapes .
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Adel / February 7, 2015
Yet another crony of a politician – Jackass!
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dcn / February 7, 2015
There is nothing wrong In his appointment as chairman of BOI. He is a mature person with integrity. He can give leadership to this institution well which has been lacking during the past few years.
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H. Dhiva / February 7, 2015
Upul Jayauriya is a political lawyer. He does not practice any commercial law. Those who know him can vouch for the fact that using his position to advance himself is entirely consistent with his character, and that avoiding conflict of interest is to be preached but not practiced. He is universally disliked by the Bar and won the Presidency of the BASL only because his opponent was a MR supporter and the Bar hated MR for removing Shirani B who was CJ .
See https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/usually-unpopular-upul-jayasuriya-wins-big-at-basl-election-over-rajapaksa-backed-tirantha/
He contested the Presidency of BASL in 2008 and lost to W Dayaratne who was a proctor and could have been beaten by anyone.
http://www.island.lk/2008/03/01/news28.html
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Amden / February 7, 2015
Hope this unethical scoundrel (lawyer in short) will shut up at least now, that he has got his ‘pideni’.
This man who led the campaign against the CJ as if his appointment was the worst crime ever committed is now happy to accept a post he is not qualified to handle, and are full of conflicts.
Such thieves and yaha-palanaya don’t go together.
Shame Sirisena, you need a backbone to stand up against Ranil, Mangala and their boys.
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Naga / February 7, 2015
You are right Amden. Sirisena has no backbone. He owes his present position as President of Sri Lanka to people like Ranil, Chandrika, Sampanthan,Sumanthiran, Hakeem etc. He has no option but to obey his puppet masters.
Upul Jayasuriya politicized the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and thereby disgraced the legal profession. He led the BASL in ugly demonstrations against the CJ Mohan Peiris and in their support for impeached former CJ Shirani Bandaranaike. The conduct of Upul and BASL was unethical.
Come and look at the various Law Societies in Australia. Are they staging demonstrations and protest marches against the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia? Do they march an impeached former CJ to illegally resume duties as CJ?
Upul and members of the executive of BASL have brought shame on the Sri Lankan legal profession. They know nothing of ethics or professional responsibility. They are a bunch of publicity seekers with one eye on plum political offices.
And now as expected this guy Upul has been richly rewarded with the political position as BOI Chairman.
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Jim softy / February 7, 2015
This hyena was screaming because he wanted a plump position.
shameless people.
Now, his struggle is over.
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R. Varathan / February 7, 2015
If the important BoI should be made a successful body to attract foreign investment, it must have a senior professional, successful businessman with a long and established record as its head. A political lawyer like Upul Jayasuriya is not the best choice. Political payback in our system, unfortunately, is unavoidable but it must be made rationally. When Ranil came in 2001 Arjuna Mahendran
was a good choice – in the line of what I have described.
Upul J may have fitted in at Seylan Bank that had two political lawyers as Chairmen in recent times.
R. Varathan
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Srinath gunaratne / February 7, 2015
What yaha, this waha,
This cronyism cannot go on, these jobs must be filled with interviews, I hope people realise what they have done, bringing into power a bunch thievs waiting to steal from state coffins
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Samuel Jayaweera / February 7, 2015
Hey, I think you guys need to help import canddiates from UK and US if you all criticse these appointments. MS has made very clear that almost all and sundry in the country is partly addicted to abusive culture – so he cant put the blame on them- but the adminsitration was the root cause all of authorities to be abusive as much as the head of state had been. Do we have means to hire foreign candidates for lanken positions ? DO we have enough of high ranking well experienced candidates to fill up the positions that leave vacant. This is the reason why even JVP stands somewhat fair with the ground situation of the country. AKD is very clear that the situation left behind by MR administration is akin to after tsunami wave damage the west coast- I mean if you focus on it on surface, you may count highways and road constructions, but the drastic erosion of the society- be it in SRILANKEN airlines, other public sectors- not many remained to be called genuine and 100% free of abuses. Dont forget thiis is a nature caught by a 30 year civil war. So the name of war, there were all abusive handlings went on an off. The emergency laws were abused by some while those laws should have been there to protect the nation. All in all like anythign and everything is entwined so that you cant see it beyond. U can argue, but the ground reality when it is going to clear it out – it is a complex that would need more time than just estimated.
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Milton / February 7, 2015
What does Upul Jayasooriya know about BOI, FDI, Industry and Economy? Maithree Palanaya appoints lawyers to every post. Absurd! This country is heading from worse to worst!
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Jagath Fernando / February 7, 2015
BASL is a professional trade union like GMOA.
What is wrong in Upul accepting the position as a chairman of a state entity?
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SLFP / February 7, 2015
Hi Guys,
I have read almost some comments being made on Upul j’s appointment to BOI. Some comments made were of no value but malice. As far as we know Upul J was appointed as the BASL president in 2013 with the highest ever Majority in the history of the BASL. He contested against odds. MR in his capacity as President worked tirelessly against Upul J nad he yet won with the highest majority. He deserves that position.
Governments appoints people who can contribute to the cause. Unlike appointing Wimal Weerawansa to the Engineering port folio to look after Engineers. This man WW do not know what 2/2 is.He says 2/2 = 0?. That is how MR selected his Ministers. If we read the list of appointments that MR made as Ministers and heads departments to name a few Kudu Duminda Minister over seeing Defence, Rattaran Hora Rohitha Minister in charge of Ports, Mervyn Slva ??? only education is a peon at CWE.
Upul J was a two time chairman of Tractor Corporation and Oils Fats Corporation. Director CEO of Ceylon Chocolates. First MD of Asian Finance. Director of several boards. First Legal advisor of GCEG now BOI. So we believe he is the most suitable at this moment. He along with his committee, stood for rule of law. Protected the judiciary being vandalised by MR and company.
So do not write baseless comments but with facts reasoning.
It is a shame we still have people who cannot think straight.
SLPF.
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muditha / February 7, 2015
I don’t think any one is qualified to give character certificate to Upul Jayasuriya about his integrity.
The members of the profession know that his integrity was challenged when Shirani B was the CJ and she saved him with no action initiated to inquire into the allegation made against him.
I challenge both Upul J and Shirani B to deny this and I am prepared to present the plausible allegation of misconduct reported against Upul J to the CJ which he hide under the Carpet.
Upul J did play his part after that and did utmost best to save the Shirani B
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Off The Wall / February 7, 2015
You arm chair critics can keep nit-picking until the cows come home, but a government needs to ACT. And a government with a 100-day limit needs to ACT FAST. That sometimes means making compromises in good faith. You can only work with whatever materials you got. I agree Upul Jayasuriya is not exactly a Mahatma Gandhi, but you have to make do! Tell me, how many of us are really qualified for the positions we are holding in our lives – even for the role of an arm chair critic?
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SLPF / February 8, 2015
Hey Muditha,
Without hiding behind please say when and where Upul J was challenged??
“The members of the profession know that his integrity was challenged when Shirani B was the CJ and she saved him with no action initiated to inquire into the allegation made against him. “
DO NOT USE THIS SITE TO BROADCAST YOUR personal views with malice which will end up with defamation buddy. When writing something write with a purpose.
SLPF
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Tilak de Silva / February 8, 2015
This is yet another appointment by Mr Sirisena to please someone who screamed the most. The president has no ability to appoint the suitable person for any position so far UJ is a lawyer, was holding a position in BASL, can he inform the public his experience in managing a organisation like BOI, he may have administrative experience, position in BOI needs more than that, definitely not a political puppet. Oh! sorry this administration is full of puppets from starting with the President Mr Sirisena
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samarakoon / February 8, 2015
I think what is best is not to make any effort to make any comment about Mr Upul Jayasuriya’s Character and his eligibility to hold any high office.
If there is any truth in the misconduct allegations made against him Justice Bandaranayake is the best person to comment on that. She should be able to say if there was any such allegation against him and what action taken by the CJ. True that Mr Jayasuriya helped her to have her name cleared but I’m sure that she would not be bias towards Mr Jayasuriya.
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george jilmart / February 8, 2015
A good start would have been for the government to advertise such important positions so that the best candidate is found. The culture still appears to be biased towards appointing people who the politicians know. We must move away from his bad habit and be more transparent in making appointments. However Upul being a qualified lawyer may do a good job.
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muditha / February 8, 2015
Hi SLPF
There is no malice involved at all, but no one is given a licence to give bogus character certificates to any.
It looks that you know nothing about Mr Jayasuriya. Please check with him he will tell you what IMPROPER CONDUCT charge was levelled against him and how he was saved by Shirani B.
If you still unhappy with this and Mr Jayasuriya refused to reveal the charges level against him please let me know so that I can give you the access to the document presented to the CJ Bandaranayake, BUT ME MINDFUL OTEHR LEADERS TO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO IT
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SLPF / February 9, 2015
Hi Muditha,
Our email address is srilankaprogressivefront@gmail.com
Like a gentleman send us the so called document. Also we need your contact details to verify the source. We will keep them confidential. What we have written in this column has been verified before publishing. So you also come clean by giving us the true documents for verification and publicity. If you do not provide we will treat you as another BS.
We will send this mail to the CT to initiate action as required.
We await your “document”
SLPF
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muditha / February 9, 2015
Thank you for your invitation and the email address sent, requesting for the complaint made to CJ by a litigant against Mr Upul Jayasuriya’s misconduct as an Attorney at Law.
However, I’m sorry say that this is not a private matter to me and the public has the right to know about this affair, and I believe all readers of Colombo Telegraph should have access to this important document to make their own judgment about Mr Jayasuriya.
Kindly click the following link for the Affidavit sent to CJ Bandaranayake
https://medium.com/@watchdog4sj/supreme-court-serious-abuses-of-legal-profession-encouraged-db8117246db3
You can also visit the Supreme Court Registry and ask for the Case record SCFR/536/2010) for the Original of this affidavit and for the document that accompanied the complaint to the CJ Bandaranayake.
I have nothing personal against Mr Jayasurita, but I always stand for the professional ethics irrespective of the person or persons concerned. I must thank you for giving me for this opportunity to let the leaders to know the true facts.
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Tilak de Silva / February 10, 2015
If Mr Upul Jayasuriya has any dignity, morality, he should not accept BOI position, it’s a poison chalice given by Mr Sirisena to keep him quiet. Mr Sirisena would have been well advised that UJ is not capable for this position as in human nature ‘when one is given a high position 99% accept, despite their inadequacies’. This is a clear example, he has taken more than he can handle, BOI will end up more corrupted than before, knowing UJ s cunning plans.
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viveka / February 11, 2015
Compared to all the previous BOI chairs who were utter corrupts( and one being Sajin Was Gunawardhana’s father), I think we can take a rest about barking on the integrity of UJ. Obviously he has better integrity than all. Legal field was overall full of corrupt as well as arrogant people who consider they are demigods. And the normal people has to take all their shit with no objections just because they are(corrupt stooges) still holds so much power vested on them to crush a common man. Top level people used the power of the MR regime, and the local levels there were so many lawyers who were touting to get shead using Namal Rajapakshe baby’s power. But still there are good people in this field. So this infested field needs to be cleaned and it will take so long compared to any other field.
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SLPF / February 11, 2015
We have sent the link to relevant people.
Also your comments to asses whether there is any element of malice.
It would be good if you could send us your email to further communicate if a necessity arises.
SLPF
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Asoka Diasanayaka / February 11, 2015
This is SriLankan way of political gift.Since 1977 this practice is continuing in Sri Lanka.Some one politically connected to the Leader,Minister or MP of governing party that is only qualification to appoint his supporters (he or she) to any Institution as a head or any post under their Ministry.Likewise upul’s first appointment directly done by Late. Lalith AthulathmudaliP.C.( Minister of Trade ) as a Chairman of STC and several others places during that period.Upul failed several years to appoint even as a Secretary or President Colombo Law Society but some or other he was elected to the Bar Association in a big majority as a results of MR week supporter contested during that period. Upul Jayauriya is a political lawyer.One time he contested Rathmalana and unsuccessful from a UNP ticket. He does not practice any commercial law,but according to the press some one had stated that more than 4000 Human rights fundermentiontal cases appeared in Sri Lanka.? How?.Those who know him can vouch for the fact that using his position to advance himself is entirely consistent with his character, and that avoiding conflict of interest is to be preached but not practiced. He is universally disliked by the Bar and won the Presidency of the BASL only because his opponent was a MR supporter and the Bar hated MR for removing Shirani B who was CJ.Compare to the MR’s appointment e is far better and more suitable to that position.we all know that Shirani J also Political appointment to the S.C. act without any dignity in that postion.but for 100 days this position is too small for upul.Kade giya taramata Madi…Aparade UN postion ekak dunnanam Landan gihin enaa thibuna pavula ekka.
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Asoka Diasanayaka / February 11, 2015
This is SriLankan way of political gift.Since 1977 this practice is continuing in Sri Lanka.Some one politically connected to the Leader,Minister or MP of governing party that is only qualification to appoint his supporters (he or she) to any Institution as a head or any post under their Ministry.Likewise upul’s first appointment directly done by Late. Lalith AthulathmudaliP.C.( Minister of Trade ) as a Chairman of STC and several others places during that period.Upul failed several years to appoint even as a Secretary or President Colombo Law Society but some or other he was elected to the Bar Association in a big majority as a results of MR week supporter contested during that period. Upul Jayauriya is a political lawyer.One time he contested Rathmalana and unsuccessful from a UNP ticket. He does not practice any commercial law,but according to the press some one had stated that more than 4000 Human rights fundermentiontal cases appeared in Sri Lanka.? How?.What ever it is he is more suitable to that position.we all know that Shirani J also Political appointment to the S.C. act without any dignity in that postion.but for 100 days this position is too small for upul.Kade giya taramata Madi…Aparade UN postion ekak dunnanam Landan gihin enaa thibuna pavula ekka.
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Karl / February 15, 2015
H. Dhiva
Let this an addendum to what you wrote.
Now corruption is looming in the BOI with the disappointing appointments .
Upul J has brought in a man named Isaac who was once
sacked from BOI for his corrupt practices by former Chairman Thilan
on being brought to light by none other than former President Chandrika .
This corrupt person’s dismisal was affirmed to by affidavits sworn by entire membership of the Board at the time. Upul J was his lawyer who miserably failed at the levels in the LT, Court of Appeal,
Supreme Court that endorsed the dismissal. This corrupt man has crept in to BOI again when Upul J became chairman of BOI. On the top of it his legal firm with Upul‘s wife is joyously drawn in a consultancy work for BOI matters. President Sirisena soon will repent that in appointing Upul J that he fooled around with a serpent.
Karl
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Dimitry gunasekera / October 20, 2015
Why is CT allowing defenseless persons to be defamed in this manner. Shameless aimless guys obviously with nothing to do are repeatedly lambasting with no right of reply or with baseless allegations in the absence material to justify the vituperations. There has been severe character assassination going on against Upul particularly against his professional conduct. Is this the culture you promote?
CT, can you Pl justify these publications?
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