BOOK LAUNCH
“A LIFE IN THE LAW by NIMAL WICKREMANAYAKE ” – By Hugh Karunanayake
The exclusive Essoign Club of the Victorian Bar in the Owen Dixon Chambers in Melbourne was the venue on Monday 28 November for the launch of the book “A Life in the Law” an autobiographical memoir written by retired Victorian Queens Counsel Nimal Wickramanayake. A gathering of distinguished lawyers including at least a dozen Judges of the Supreme Court, reputed Queens Counsel, and other leading barristers were present at the launch presided over by Barrister Graham Robertson.
Robert Richter the leading criminal lawyer in Victoria and former President of the Victorian Bar Council and of the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties, was the keynote speaker associated with the launch. He launched the book following a 45 minute address to the distinguished gathering , on the author’s journey at the bar, and focusing on the highlights of a remarkable career. The occasion also served as a felicitation by the leading lawyers of Melbourne for Nimal Wikramanayake who had an extraordinary career at the Victorian Bar. Nimal’s own family background being the son of a leading Queen’s Counsel, from Sri Lanka, his exposure to the law at Trinity College, Cambridge, his strong and resolute personality, and the unwavering support and affection of his dear wife Anna Maria, are factors that seem to have played a role in his success at the Victorian bar, culminating with the granting of silk, an honour often denied to seemingly deserving aspirants sometimes for reasons other than their legal competence. Robert Richter highlighted aspects of the author’s own experiences at the bar and applauded the manner in which he successfully overcame prejudice and the almost institutionalized blinkered attitude to “outsiders” which seemed to have pervaded the legal systems in Victoria.
Nimal Wickramanayake responded to Robert Richter with some interesting reminiscences of his tenure at the bar and highlighting some notable events during his distinguished career. He ended with the quote “old barristers never die, they only lose their appeal”!. Our mutual friend George Fernando and I being the only non lawyers in that gathering of distinguished lawyers were impressed at the solidarity shown and the warm regard they had for Nimal. It was a memorable occasion indeed, not only because of the choice wines that flowed through the evening!. An extraordinary career has come to an end. I would urge anyone interested in the law to enjoy the repast vicariously, by reading the book. In the words of Justice Michael Kirby who wrote the Foreword to the book “uncomfortable reading as it sometimes is, it is good that Nimal Wickramanayake has written his story. We can learn from it.”
Hugh Karunanayake
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