Bernard Peiris
Encyclopedia
Bernard Percival Peiris, OBE, JP (March 29, 1908 - January 18, 1977) was a Sri Lanka
n lawyer. He was the former Cabinet Secretary
and the Legal Draftsmen who drafted the Ceylon Order in Council, the first constitution of independent Ceylon.
, his father was Gate Mudaliar
Edmund Peiris and mother Somie Jayawickrama, daughter of Mudaliar C. F. S. Jayawickrama. He add three brothers and two sisters, of whom were S. W. Peiris an engineer who became General Manager of Government Electrical Undertakings and Glanville Peiris
a diplomat who became Director-General External Affairs and was the former Ceylon's Ambassador to West Germany and Myanmar.
He was married to Adeline, daughter of K.C.j. de Silva of Galle and had a daughter Kamala who married Dr Cecil Dharamarajah Chelliah. His nephew is Prof G. L. Peiris
current Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister of External Affairs.
where he won the George Wille Prize for Greek prose, came second in Latin prose and was made a prefect. He entered the University College, Colombo before leaving for England. Entering University College, London and Lincoln's Inn
, he pursued his legal studies. He graduated from the University of London
with a LLB degree and was called to bar at the Lincoln's Inn
on return of Ceylon he became an Advocate
and began his practice in the unofficial bar.
was head of the department. In 1946 based on the finding of Soulbury Commission
and advice of Sir Ivor Jennings, D. S. Senanayake Vice President of the Board of Ministers asked Peiris then Second Assistant Legal Draftsmen to draft constitution
to be-used for Ceylon's Independence. For this purpose he was seconded to the Attorney-General's department. The Ceylon Order in Council along with relevant supportive legislation were drafted by Peiris by 1946 and reviewed by Sir Robart Drayton, Chief Secretary and J.H.B. Nihill, Legal Secretary. The draft was approved by Senanayake and Jennings, after which it was sent to the Colonial Office
in London, who added only a single line to protect British share holders in the island. In late 1946 he tuning down an invitation to become Attorney-General of Seychelles
, which was filled by James Homer-Vanniasinkam of the same department.
In 1947, he was appointed to the post of Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet by D. S. Senanayake with the formation of Cabinet Government in Ceylon with its first Cabinet
. He was promoted to Cabinet Secretary in October 1954 and later elevated to the pay-rate of a Permanent Secretary
. He served under six prime ministers until he retired in 1963. For his public service he was awarded made Member in the Order of the British Empire
in 1947 and an Officer in 1954.
He died on January 18, 1977.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n lawyer. He was the former Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
and the Legal Draftsmen who drafted the Ceylon Order in Council, the first constitution of independent Ceylon.
Family
Born to a wealthy family in PanaduraPanadura
- History :The historic debate 'Panadura Vadaya' was held in this place which is a milestone of the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the initiative of the ven. Migettuwaththe Gunananda Thera.- People and Culture :Panadura is home to about 100,000 citizens...
, his father was Gate Mudaliar
Sri Lankan Mudaliyars
Mudali was a colonial title & office in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes form the coastal areas, who were most likely to serve the Portuguese masters with utmost loyalty. The Dutch continued the practice of...
Edmund Peiris and mother Somie Jayawickrama, daughter of Mudaliar C. F. S. Jayawickrama. He add three brothers and two sisters, of whom were S. W. Peiris an engineer who became General Manager of Government Electrical Undertakings and Glanville Peiris
Glanville Peiris
Glanville Peiris, SLOS was a Sri Lankan diplomat, who was the former Director-General External Affairs, former Ceylon's Ambassador to West Germany and Myanmar....
a diplomat who became Director-General External Affairs and was the former Ceylon's Ambassador to West Germany and Myanmar.
He was married to Adeline, daughter of K.C.j. de Silva of Galle and had a daughter Kamala who married Dr Cecil Dharamarajah Chelliah. His nephew is Prof G. L. Peiris
G. L. Peiris
Gamini Lakshman Peiris is a Sri Lankan politician and academic...
current Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister of External Affairs.
Education
Educated at the prestigious Royal College ColomboRoyal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
where he won the George Wille Prize for Greek prose, came second in Latin prose and was made a prefect. He entered the University College, Colombo before leaving for England. Entering University College, London and Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, he pursued his legal studies. He graduated from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
with a LLB degree and was called to bar at the Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
on return of Ceylon he became an Advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
and began his practice in the unofficial bar.
Public service
In 1936, he joined public service as an Assistant Legal Draftsmen in the Legal Draftsmen's Department, when Mervyn FonsekaMervyn Fonseka
Mervyn Fonseka, OBE, KC was a Ceylonese lawyer. He was the former Solicitor General of Ceylon & Legal DraftsmanEducated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo and at the Colombo Law College. He taught at briefly at Royal College before he joined the legal service as a Crown Counsel in 1928,...
was head of the department. In 1946 based on the finding of Soulbury Commission
Soulbury Commission
The Soulbury Commission, announced in 1944 was, like its predecessor, the Donoughmore Commission, a prime instrument of constitutional reform in Sri Lanka. The immediate basis for the appointment of a commission for constitutional reforms was the 1944 draft constitution of the Board of Ministers,...
and advice of Sir Ivor Jennings, D. S. Senanayake Vice President of the Board of Ministers asked Peiris then Second Assistant Legal Draftsmen to draft constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
to be-used for Ceylon's Independence. For this purpose he was seconded to the Attorney-General's department. The Ceylon Order in Council along with relevant supportive legislation were drafted by Peiris by 1946 and reviewed by Sir Robart Drayton, Chief Secretary and J.H.B. Nihill, Legal Secretary. The draft was approved by Senanayake and Jennings, after which it was sent to the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
in London, who added only a single line to protect British share holders in the island. In late 1946 he tuning down an invitation to become Attorney-General of Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
, which was filled by James Homer-Vanniasinkam of the same department.
In 1947, he was appointed to the post of Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet by D. S. Senanayake with the formation of Cabinet Government in Ceylon with its first Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
. He was promoted to Cabinet Secretary in October 1954 and later elevated to the pay-rate of a Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
. He served under six prime ministers until he retired in 1963. For his public service he was awarded made Member in the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1947 and an Officer in 1954.
He died on January 18, 1977.