Padman Surasena

Preethi Padman Surasena is a Sri Lankan lawyer serving since 27 July 2025 as the 49th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka. He was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Surasena succeeded Murdu Fernando, who retired as the 48th chief justice on 27 July. Prior to his appointment, he served as a List of justices of the [Supreme Court of Sri Lanka|puisne justice] and as the 46th List of presidents and judges of the [Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka#Presidents of the Court of Appeal|president] of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka, in addition to holding other judicial appointments and serving in the Attorney General's Department.

Early life

Surasena obtained his bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Colombo in 1985. He then entered the Sri Lanka Law College in the same year and was sworn in as an attorney in 1989.

Surasena joined the Attorney General's Department of Sri Lanka and served as a Senior State Counsel. He was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Sri Lanka in 2007 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. On 20 January 2016, President Maithripala Sirisena nominated and appointed him as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka.
On 15 January 2018, he was appointed as the 46th president of the Court of Appeal by President Sirisena.
On 9 January 2019, Surasena was appointed to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka as a puisne justice by President Sirisena.

On 22 July 2025, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake nominated Surasena for appointment as the next chief justice, following the retirement of Murdu Fernando on 27 July. The nomination was considered and ratified by the Constitutional Council on 23 July.
On 27 July, Surasena was sworn in as the 49th chief justice of Sri Lanka by President Dissanayake.
On 11 December 2025, during an official visit to India, Surasena was accorded a ceremonial sitting at the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.

On 10 March 2015, President Sirisena appointed Surasena as the chairman of Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges.
In January 2025, Surasena was appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a member of the Judicial Service Commission, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of former Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. He became chairman of the commission on 27 July 2025, following the retirement of Chief Justice Murdu Fernando and his own elevation to the post.