Ruana Rajapakse's fight for Galle Face Green

WHILE watching television broadcasts on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, I could not help but reflect on whether even one per cent of the celebrants enjoying the festivities at the Galle Face Green, or the commercial enterprises that earned revenue through events and advertising, were aware of the extraordinary individual whose courage and intellect made such public enjoyment possible.

- BY SENEHE PERERA

The unrestricted access of the general public to the Galle Face Green, the vibrant celebrations witnessed by television viewers, and the continuity of public events at this iconic location were not accidental developments. They were made possible through the dedicated, erudite, and fearless legal work of Ruana Rajepakse, Attorney-at-Law, who acted steadfastly in the interest of the public.

Her legal intervention, undertaken with courage and unwavering commitment, paved the way for the commencement and continuation of public activities at the Galle Face Green, safeguarding it as a space for the people.

Yet, her contribution remains largely unacknowledged, an example of the quiet dedication of a lawyer who placed public interest above personal recognition.

Even a cursory look at Ruana Rajapakse’s life and work reveals an extraordinarily ambitious and accomplished woman: a Supreme Court Attorney and a playwright, a newspaper columnist and an environmentalist, a novelist and a legal advocate.