In the matter of a Rule against Mr. H.A. Ratnayake.. – SC RULE 04/2022-2023

Brief
In the case between the Court (on behalf of the public interest and the legal profession) and H.A. (Mahinda) Ratnayake, the issue considered was whether proven fraudulent conduct by an attorney-at-law and notary public—specifically the attestation of a deed involving fraud, false statements, and forgery—warranted disciplinary removal from the roll. It was held that despite personal mitigation factors, the respondent’s early-career misconduct and conviction under the Notaries Ordinance and the Penal Code compromised the integrity required for legal practitioners. This outcome reinforced the principle that legal professionals must maintain impeccable standards of reputation and integrity. The decision drew upon relevant statutory provisions and case law, underscoring the need for publi