Prasannajit De Silva |link| May 2026

This article explores the multifaceted career of Prasannajit de Silva, his landmark contributions to corporate governance, and why his name remains synonymous with integrity in Sri Lankan law. Born into an era where the legal profession was dominated by familiar colonial-era dynasties, Prasannajit de Silva distinguished himself early through sheer intellectual rigor. He pursued his higher education at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo, before entering the Sri Lanka Law College. Upon becoming an Attorney-at-Law, he did not settle for mediocrity. He joined the unofficial bar and quickly ascended the ranks, known for his meticulous preparation and mastery of commercial and fiscal statutes.

Perhaps his most complex case involved the Italian dairy giant Parmalat ’s subsidiaries in Sri Lanka. When Parmalat collapsed globally due to fraud, de Silva was tasked with recovering assets parked in Colombo. Using novel legal arguments regarding piercing the corporate veil—a doctrine rarely successful in Sri Lankan courts—he managed to secure millions for international creditors, setting a precedent for cross-border insolvency recognition. Unlike many practicing lawyers, Prasannajit de Silva is also a scholar. He has lectured extensively at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, and served as an examiner for the Sri Lanka Law College. His written opinions, often cited in the Sri Lanka Law Reports , focus on the intersection of the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 and common law fiduciary duties. prasannajit de silva

As Sri Lanka navigates its economic recovery, the principles championed by Prasannajit de Silva—transparency, procedural fairness, and rigorous enforcement—remain more relevant than ever. He has built a legacy that will outlast any single case or commission: a legal infrastructure built to last. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal inquiries regarding Mr. de Silva’s current practice, readers should contact the relevant legal chambers. This article explores the multifaceted career of Prasannajit

Legal scholars note that de Silva’s judgments (in his capacity as an arbitrator) and his legal opinions tend to favor ex post regulation—the idea that regulators must act swiftly after a breach to restore market confidence, rather than just drafting prospective rules. In a rare interview with the Bar Association Law Journal , Prasannajit de Silva articulated his core philosophy: "Commercial law is not a set of handcuffs; it is the lubrication for the engine of commerce. Without trust in the legal system, capital flees to jurisdictions with clearer rules." Upon becoming an Attorney-at-Law, he did not settle

His legacy is visible every day on the trading floor of the Colombo Stock Exchange. The rules that prevent price rigging, the codes that force family-owned conglomerates to disclose related-party transactions, and the protections for minority shareholders—many of these exist today because Prasannajit de Silva wrote them into force. Searching for Prasannajit de Silva today yields results from diverse fields: corporate board appointments, Supreme Court rulings, and arbitration awards. For a law student, he is a role model of how to balance scholarship with practice. For an investor in Sri Lanka, his name is a stamp of regulatory integrity. For a CEO, he is the lawyer you call when the company faces an existential legal crisis.