Chanaka de Silva

Background

About Chanaka de Silva

Chanaka de Silva PC has been a practising lawyer for 34 years. An expert in the field of project finance transactions and negotiations, he has been involved in advising, negotiating and structuring several large infrastructure projects in diverse areas such as electricity, telecommunication, petroleum, road, ports and mining and several privatisations. He initially served in the Attorney-General’s Department, specialising in banking and commercial law issues and litigation, as well as advising the Government of Sri Lanka on various issues involving infrastructure development, project finance, restructuring and corporatization transactions. These included projects in the Electricity, Ports and Mining Sectors. Chanaka has also functioned as the Senior Legal Consultant to the Secretariat for Infrastructure Development and Investment and its successor, the Bureau of Infrastructure Investment. This involved advising the Government and relevant Governmental Agencies on large-scale infrastructure projects. He was a Legal Advisor to the Public Enterprise Reform Commission of Sri Lanka. This involved the provision of legal advice relating to the public enterprise restructuring and privatisation process in Sri Lanka. Chanaka served in various Committees relating to public enterprise restructuring. He was a Member of the Three Member Committee appointed by Her Excellency the President of Sri Lanka to examine Land Lease Agreements relating to the estates of Estate Owning Companies and to propose the restructuring arrangements necessary for the privatisation of the Estate Owning Companies. He was also a Member of the Committee appointed by the Minister of Highways to examine the Thoroughfares Ordinance and to propose a new draft National Highways Act. He was appointed to the group of consultants who had to formulate proposals to enhance competition among port operators in Sri Lanka and has been a member of several committees for the drafting of legislation, including legislation relating to banking and debt recovery. In April 2019, Chanaka was appointed a President’s Counsel by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka, under Article 33 (2)(e) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, an appointment made from persons, who have reached eminence in the legal profession and have maintained high standards of conduct and professional rectitude. It is equivalent to the appointment of Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth jurisdictions.