Gamini Abhaya Iriyagolle (known as ''Gamini Iriyagolle'') (c.1936-2003) was a

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

n lawyer, civil servant, presidential advisor and a writer. He was a former member of the

Ceylon Civil Service The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, was the premier civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule and in the immediate post-independence period. Established in 1833, it functioned as part of the ...

and served as Presidential adviser to J R Jayawardena and

Ranasinghe Premadasa Sri Lankabhimanya Ranasinghe Premadasa ( si, රණසිංහ ප්‍රේමදාස ''Raṇasiṃha Premadāsa'', ta, ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாசா ''Raṇaciṅka Pirēmatācā''; 23 June 1924 – 1 May 1993) was t ...

Born to I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla and Ranee Iriyagolle Menike, he had six siblings. His father I. M. R. A. Iriyagolla was Cabinet Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs. Educated at the

Royal College, Colombo Royal College, Colombo is a selective entry boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started as a private school by Rev Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in Janua ...

, where he won the

Turnour Prize Royal College, Colombo is a selective entry boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started as a private school by Rev Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in Janua ...

several times and edited the college magazine. At seventeen he entered the Law Faculty of

University of Ceylon The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka (earlier Ceylon) from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the Univer ...

after gaining first in the University Entrance Exam. By the age 22 he was the youngest

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. Different countries' legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a barrister or a solicitor. However, ...

in the island. Iriyagolla entered the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) at the age of twenty four having become first at the Civil Service Examination. During his service in the CCS, he attended Trinity Hall,

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

for postgraduate study (LLM) and served in the Ministry of Agriculture & Food as Deputy Director of Agricultural Development; Co-Director of the Agrarian Research & Training Institute (ARTI); Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Following his retirement from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service he served as Presidential adviser for President

. He authored several books and was a regular contributor to several newspapers. He died on 3 February 2003 with the final rites taking place at the Colombo General Cemetery. He was married to Indrani Iriyagolla, with whom he had two children Nayanee and Rohan.

Publications

* Iriyagolle, G. (1978). The Truth about the Mahaweli. Sri Lanka: Iriyagolle. * Iriyagolle, G. (1985). Tamil Claims to Land: Fact and Fiction. India: Institute of Public Affairs. * Iriyagolle, G. (2000). The Kandyan Convention: A Conditional Treaty of Cession Between the Sinhalese and the British, 2 March 1815. Sri Lanka: Sinhala Veera Vidahana. * Ceylon History.

References

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Vignettes of the Public Service
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Patriot and Visionary In Commemoration Demise 03-01-2003

Versatile constitutional lawyer

External links

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Patriot and Visionary In Commemoration Demise 03-01-2003

Versatile constitutional lawyer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iriyagolla, Gamini Sinhalese lawyers Ceylonese advocates Alumni of Royal College, Colombo Alumni of the University of Ceylon Alumni of the University of Cambridge Sri Lankan civil servants 2003 deaths Year of birth missing