A senior Sri Lankan judge, K Sripavan, was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Sri Lanka on Friday, by the president, Maithripala Sirisena.
Justice Sripavan, who is of Tamil ethnicity, replaces the former chief justice, Shirani Bandaranayake, whose impeachment during the former government's rule led to the appointment of Mohan Peiris.
The appointment of senior judicial posts in Sri Lanka has faced criticism through the years, with critics arguing the appointments should be conducted by an independent commission, than by the president for political reasons.
Justice Sripavan, who is 63 years old, has only one and half years till the state age of retirement, 65.
The last chief justice who was of Tamil ethnicity, was Herbert Thambiah. He left the post in 1991.
Justice Sripavan, who is of Tamil ethnicity, replaces the former chief justice, Shirani Bandaranayake, whose impeachment during the former government's rule led to the appointment of Mohan Peiris.
The appointment of senior judicial posts in Sri Lanka has faced criticism through the years, with critics arguing the appointments should be conducted by an independent commission, than by the president for political reasons.
Justice Sripavan, who is 63 years old, has only one and half years till the state age of retirement, 65.
The last chief justice who was of Tamil ethnicity, was Herbert Thambiah. He left the post in 1991.