Christopher Weeramantry
Encyclopedia
Sri Lankabhimanya
Christopher Gregory Weeramantry (born 17 November 1926 in Colombo
, Sri Lanka
) was a Justice
of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
from 1967 to 1972. He was a Judge of the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) from 1991 to 2000, and was Vice-President of the ICJ from 1997 to 2000. He presided in his capacity as Vice-President of the ICJ over several important cases before the Court, including a case on the illegality of the use and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Judge Weeramantry serves on the Legal and Human Rights Advisory Board of the Genetics Policy Institute
. He is currently Emeritus Professor at Monash University
, having previously served as Sir Hayden Starke
's Chair of Law from 1972 to 1991. Furthermore he is the president of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.
In addition C.G. Weeramantry is a councillor of the World Future Council
, and the Honorary Patron of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL). He was awarded the Right Livelihood Award
in 2007.
. For his secondary education, he attended the Sri Lanka Law College
where he completed his Attorney-at-law exams. He also possesses a B.A.
from the University of Colombo
. Judge
C. G. Weeramantry went on to complete a LL.B. from the University of London
, and he also gained a Bachelor of Art (Hons.) from the same University. Judge C. G. Weeramantry has also gained a LLD
from the University of London.
- Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) University of Colombo
- Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) Monash University
- Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) National Law School of India - Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa)
Sri Lankabhimanya
Sri Lankabhimanya is the highest National Honor of Sri Lanka awarded by the President of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Government. It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the name of the person who received the award. It is the highest civil honour conferred for exceptionally outstanding...
Christopher Gregory Weeramantry (born 17 November 1926 in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Sri Lanka
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...
) was a Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is the highest court of the nation of Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court is the highest and final judicial instance of record and is empowered to exercise its powers, subject to the provisions of the Constitution. The Court has ultimate appellate jurisdiction in...
from 1967 to 1972. He was a Judge of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
(ICJ) from 1991 to 2000, and was Vice-President of the ICJ from 1997 to 2000. He presided in his capacity as Vice-President of the ICJ over several important cases before the Court, including a case on the illegality of the use and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Judge Weeramantry serves on the Legal and Human Rights Advisory Board of the Genetics Policy Institute
Genetics Policy Institute
The Genetics Policy Institute is a 501 nonprofit organization that educates the public and promotes supportive public policy for stem cell research and other forms of cutting-edge medicine....
. He is currently Emeritus Professor at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, having previously served as Sir Hayden Starke
Hayden Starke
Sir Hayden Erskine Starke KCMG , an Australian judge, was a justice of the High Court of Australia.Starke was born in the town of Creswick, Victoria in 1871...
's Chair of Law from 1972 to 1991. Furthermore he is the president of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.
In addition C.G. Weeramantry is a councillor of the World Future Council
World Future Council
The World Future Council is an independent body formally founded in Hamburg, Germany on 10 May 2007. "Formed to speak on behalf of policy solutions that serve the interests of future generations", it includes members active in governmental bodies, civil society, business, science and the arts...
, and the Honorary Patron of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL). He was awarded the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
in 2007.
Education
His education began 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...
. For his secondary education, he attended the Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College
Sri Lanka Law College was established as the Ceylon Law College under the Council of Legal Education in 1874 in order to impart a formal legal education to those who wished to be lawyers in Ceylon...
where he completed his Attorney-at-law exams. He also possesses a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
. Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
C. G. Weeramantry went on to complete a LL.B. 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...
, and he also gained a Bachelor of Art (Hons.) from the same University. Judge C. G. Weeramantry has also gained a LLD
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
from the University of London.
Academic achievements
B.A. (Hons.), LLB., LLD. (University of London); LLD. (Honoris Causa) (University of Colombo); LLD. (Honoris Causa) (Monash University); LL.D.(Honoris Causa) National Law School of India; D.Lit.(Honoris Causa) University of London http://www.wicper.org/judge.htmAwards
Judge Weeramantry is a recipient of the following awards and honours:- Honorary Member of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM), 2003 - Sri LankabhimanyaSri LankabhimanyaSri Lankabhimanya is the highest National Honor of Sri Lanka awarded by the President of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Government. It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the name of the person who received the award. It is the highest civil honour conferred for exceptionally outstanding...
the highest National Honour of Sri Lanka (2007). - Right Livelihood AwardRight Livelihood AwardThe Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
(2007) - UNESCO Prize for Peace EducationUNESCO Prize for Peace EducationThe UNESCO Prize for Peace Education has been awarded annually since 1981.The prize is endowed up to 60 000 US dollars and honours extraordinary activities in the spirit of the UNESCO constitution.-Recipients of the Prize by year:...
(2006)
Publications
Judge Weeramantry has authored the following books:- Apartheid
- Armageddon
- Equality and Freedom
- Invitation to Law
- Islamic Jurisprudence: An International Perspective (1988) Macmillan, ISBN 0333446682
- Justice Without Frontiers 1
- Justice Without Frontiers 2
- The Lord's Prayer - Bridge to a better World
- NAURU
- Nuclear Weapons & Scientific Responsibility
- Slumbering Sentinels - Law in the wake of Technology
- The Law in Crisis - Bridges of Understanding
- Universalising International Law
- Call For National Reawakening
- Tread Lightly on the Earth - Religion, Environment and the Human Future
Honorary degrees
He has received several honorary degrees; University of LondonUniversity 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...
- Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) University of Colombo
University of Colombo
The University of Colombo is a public research university located primarily in Colombo, Sri Lanka...
- Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
- Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) National Law School of India - Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa)
External links
- A Great Son of Lanka S. Pathiravitana (2007), Sri Lanka Daily News. Accessed 2007-11-08
- International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms
- German Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms
- Christopher Weeramantry-The 2007 Right Livelihood Award Recipients
- C. G. Weeramantry - of memories and memoirs yet unpublished
- Judge Christopher Weeramantry Public oration, University of London
- Right Livelihood Award