OBITUARY – PRASANNA NIMAL WIKRAMANAYAKE. KC (11 August 1933 – 20 December 2023) – By Hugh Karunanayake
Nimal Wikramanayake, KC, eminent lawyer and the only Asian born Kings Counsel in Australia, passed away on 20 December at a private nursing home where he was recuperating following surgery. He celebrated his 90th birthday just a few months ago.
Born in Colombo as the second son to EG(Guy) Wikramanayake, a leading counsel in Colombo in his day, Nimal schooled at S Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. On leaving school, unlike his elder brother Ranji a well known endocrinologist in Sydney, Nimal chose to follow in the footsteps of his forefathers. His paternal grandfather Edward Beauchamp was a lawyer himself, but it was Edward Beuchamp’s two sons Eric Bird, and Emil Guy, who created legal history by being granted silk, the only instance in Sri Lanka of two brothers being appointed Kings Counsel. Nimal’s father, Emil Guy better known as EG Wikramanayake was reputed to be the best cross examiner in Sri Lanka. A career in law was to be the pre destined vocation for young Nimal when he left school in the early nineteen fifties. He enrolled as a student in law at Trinity Hall Cambridge, a hallowed institution, and the seat of legal learning for a privileged few. It was as a law student in Cambridge that he met fellow law student Anna Maria, who he wooed and married, and returned to Ceylon to kick start his career as a lawyer. With prospects for a good legal practice in Ceylon, yet not visible to him despite the domineering influence of his father, Nimal chose to try his luck in Australia.
It was in Australia that Nimal made his mark. Having migrated in 1971, he went through the usual period of worry and uncertainty in a strange country, where the legal system was already well established with hoary traditions and practices that would not permit those other than those of the stereotype ‘white Anglo Saxon’ background to get a foothold in the legal profession. A man of steely determination, an undeterred Nimal took up the challenges that success in the law posed, and came out with flying colours. The story of his battles at the bar, was recounted in his brilliantly authored memoir “A life in the law” published in 2022. Eminent former judge and jurist the Hon Michael Kirby in his foreword to the book stated “ often it is a tale of hurt. But it is when people in minorities stand against the tide that they may help to change the world.”
One of the highpoints in his career as a lawyer was his appointment and anointment to revise the legendary jurist, Louis Voumard,’s book “The Sale of Land”. Voumard was the leader in the field of property law in Australia, and the opportunity to be associated with his work was a a distinctive hall mark in Nimal’s legal career thereafter. There was no looking back and Nimal was on a trajectory to take him to the top of the profession in Victoria. He was awarded silk in 2014, thus creating a record with his father EG Wikramanayake as the only father and son to be granted silk in two different countries. More accolades were to come his way culminating with the unveiling of Nimal’s portrait by the Victorian Bar Association. Yet another unique achievement in his profession.
My association with Nimal dates back to about a decade or so, and our friendship grew in strength after my move to Melbourne from Sydney in 2015. A man who was no shrinking violet when it comes to speaking out his mind, I have observed that his uncompromising beliefs and his penchant for speaking out his thoughts had often negatively impacted on him, but certainly did not bother him. His sincerity as a friend was never in doubt, however, and if I be permitted to relate a small incident, it would illustrate the impact he made on people. A few months ago I was travelling in a taxi with Nimal and Anna Maria, when suddenly he felt a craving to eat the South Indian delicacy “dosa’. I told Nimal that I did not know of any “dosa” joint anywhere nearby, to which the taxi driver interrupted with “I know of a good place, and I can take you there right now”. I did not join them for the feed but was surprised several months later when the taxi driver appeared at the nursing home where Nimal spent his last few days on earth. He had heard on the ‘grapevine” about Nimal’s illness and come there to pay his respects. He kneeled himself before Nimal and worshipped him and left.
Nimal was an enigmatic character, but always honourable and straightforward in his dealings. Personally, I have enjoyed his company, and the many meals we shared together with Anna Maria, where their fondness for French cuisine and French wine and the delights of “escargot’( not my preferred dish though!)were quite evident.
Nimal is survived by his dear wife and companion of 65 years Anna Maria, Brothers Dr Ranji and Prenitha and families, sister Dileeni and family and his devoted nieces Shemara and Roshana.
Farewell my friend. “We had joys we had fun, we had seasons in the sun “. Sleep well, Nimal , it may not be long when we can join together for some fun.
Hugh Karunanayake
