Jaya Pathirana

Jaya Pathirana (18 April 1921 – 25 May 2000) was a Sri Lankan lawyer and member of parliament from 1961 to 1964. He also served as justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Early life
Pathirana was educated at Jaffna Central College and St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.

Career
Pathirana joined the legal profession after university and served as a defence counsel in different parts of the country.

D. B. Monnekulama, the sitting Member of Parliament, was removed from office on 20 December 1960 after being found guilty by the Bribery Commission. Pathirana contested the ensuing by-election as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and was elected to Parliament on 29 March 1961.

Pathirana was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972 Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, leader of the SLFP. He held that position until 1978 when the new constitution removed all serving Supreme Court and High Court judges from office.