| Justice H. D. Thambiah |
|
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of Sri Lanka | |
| In office 1990–1992 |
|
| Judge, Supreme Court of Ceylon | |
| In office 1984–1992 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 October 1926 |
| Died | 4 October 1992 (aged 65) |
| Alma mater | Jaffna Central College St. Thomas' College University of Ceylon Ceylon Law College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Ethnicity | Sri Lankan Tamil |
Justice Herbert Dharmarajah Thambiah (14 October 1926 – 4 October 1992) was a leading Sri Lankan Tamil lawyer and judge. He was a Court of Appeal judge, Supreme Court judge and Chief Justice of Sri Lanka.
Thambiah was born on 14 October 1926.[1] He was the son of C. R. Thambiah, a lawyer from Jaffna in northern British Ceylon. He was educated at Jaffna Central College and St. Thomas' College, Colombo.[1] After school he entered University of Ceylon and graduated with an honours degree in economics.[1] He taught at Hartley College for a period.[1] He then entered Ceylon Law College, obtaining a first class in the final examinations.[1] He became an advocate in 1954.[1]
Thambiah married Ranji Appathuari. They had one daughter - Savithri.[1]
After qualifying Thambiah practised law for a while before joining the judicial service.[1] He rose up the ranks and became a Court of Appeal judge in 1978 and Supreme Court judge in 1984.[1] He was appointed Chief Justice in 1990.[1]
Thambiah died on 4 October 1992 at the age of 65.[1]