CONDOLENCE – Dr. Wickrema Weerasooriya Former High Commissioner to Australia from 1986-1989
December 5, 2018
It is with deep sadness that the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra learnt of the passing of former High Commissioner Dr Wickrema Weerasooriya on 4th December 2018 in Colombo.
Dr Weerasooriya served as High Commissioner in Canberra from 1986 to 1989. He was the author of over twenty Australian and Sri Lankan textbooks, and his Australian text on Banking law is today considered as the definitive text on the subject. Now in its 6th edition it is titled as “Weerasooria’s Banking Law of Australia”.
One of his lasting legacies as High Commissioner was the publication of the book “Links Between Sri Lanka and Australia: A book about the Sri Lankans (Ceylonese) in Australia” that was published in 1988. This well researched publication remains to this day, a great source of information about the early arrival of Sri Lankans in Australia.
Dr. Weerasooria was a lawyer and a well known legal academic. Dr. Weerasooria obtained First Class Honours at the University of Ceylon and at the Ceylon Law College passing out First in order of Merit and winning the prize for Best Performance and the Law of Evidence. Thereafter, he obtained his PhD from the London School of Economics. He practiced law in Sri Lanka and then opted for an Academic career teaching both in Sri Lanka and in Australia as an Associate Professor in Law at the Monash University.
Dr. Weerasooria has held senior public sector posts in Sri Lanka as Secretary, Ministry of Plan Implementation, Acting Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Consultant, Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Tertiary Education.
At the time of his death, Dr Weerasooriya functioned as Sri Lanka’s Insurance Ombudsman and an Advisor to the President.
He leaves behind his wife Rohini and children Senaka and Nilkamal. Remains will lie at residence, No. 10, Claessen Place, Colombo 5 from 5 December. Funeral arrangements are to be notified. The High Commissioner and staff of the Sri Lanka High Commission convey their sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.