He is to be appointed as the 44th Chief Justice of the country.

Yesterday, Sri Lanka's 43rd Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake who was removed from office under disputed circumstances was restored in Office by President Maithripala Sirisena who declared her the country's legitimate Chief Justice.

Secretary to the President P. B. Abeykoon had dispatched a letter to Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake giving effect to a resumption of duties as the Chief Justice. Secretary P. B. Abeykoon in a separate letter to the defacto Chief Justice President's Counsel Mohan Pieris informed him that his appointment as the 44th Chief Justice was unconstitutional, the government news portal - news.lk reports.

Sripavan was born on 29 February 1952. He was the son of Nadaraja Kanagasabapathy, an employee of Kankesanthurai Cement Factory. He was educated at Jaffna Hindu College between 1962 and 1972. He joined Ceylon Law College in 1974 and passed out as an attorney at law in 1976, obtaining a first class in the Intermediate Examination.

After qualifying Sripavan practised law at the unofficial Bar of Sri Lanka between 1977 and 1978. He then joined the Attorney Generals Department as an acting State Counsel on 14 February 1978. He became a permanent State Counsel on 3 March 1979. He was promoted to Senior State Counsel in 1989.

Sripavan was appointed Deputy Solicitor General on 22 February 1996.

He is considered the most senior judge in the Supreme Court bench.