J.C. Weliamuna honoured with the Citizens Peace Award

Attorney-at-Law J.C.Weliamuna was awarded The Citizens Peace Award for 2012 presented by the National Peace Council at a function held in Colombo on Wednesday evening.
The Citizens Peace Award for 2012 was presented to Attorney-at-Law J.C.Weliamuna for his contribution to democracy, good governance and peace. A gathering including representatives from the diplomatic community and civil society activists were present at the event.
Recipient of Citizens Peace Award 2012, Attorney at Law J.C.WeIiamuna shared these thoughts:
“It is not difficult to conclude that ruthless terrorists as well as
authoritarian regimes are on par as
regards to corruption and abuses of human rights. They have no respect for the well-established principals of rule of law. On the contrary, they want a captive population to respect their will as the rule of law. They are perhaps the greatest threat on establishment of decent peaceful, democratic society.”

J.C. Weliamuna who was born in Walasmulla, received his education at Walasmulla Maha Vidyalaya and at St. Aloysius College in Galle. He subsequently entered Law College and took oaths as an Attorney on July 25, 1989.
Weliamuna practiced commercial law before turning his attention towards constitutional and human rights law.
Weliamuna rose to prominence locally and internationally as a human rights activist, taking on the most number of pro bono cases. Weliamuna who was instrumental in the establishment Transparency International Sri Lanka, functions as the organisation's current Chairman.
In addition, J.C. Weliamuna also serves as the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on International Affairs of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.
Weliamuna who works together with a number of non-government and civil society organisations is also an active member of several such organisations.