iSurprise Viveka

Fort resident and civil lawyer

My mother knew everyone in the Fort. She practiced for 48 years and for 8 of those she was the only female lawyer in Galle. The courts have an important place here and I feel strongly that they should remain.
— Viveka Dharshini



A legal tradition

Following in the footsteps of my mother, Charlotte Samaranayake, I practice as a civil lawyer focusing on land matters and divorce. I have very few clients from the Fort as it’s a place where there aren’t many problems but occasionally, I handle property cases. I have an office on Leyn Baan Street, on the edge of the Law Court Square, which was previously my mother’s and it still has her nameboard. She practiced for 48 years and for 8 of those she was the only female lawyer in Galle. Now the gender balance has shifted and I estimate that about 75% of the lawyers in the Fort are women.


Historic value

The courts have an important place here and I feel strongly that they should remain. They are part of its history. They also add security and are conveniently placed for the public as they are within short walking distance of the Galle Bus Stand.


Christmas memories

My mother knew everyone in the Fort. She was the lawyer for Nesta Brohier who formally owned the New Oriental Hotel (now the Amangalla on Church Street). We were invited there each Christmas Eve. Nesta served delicious breeder, a sweet cake, which she made as one of her Dutch traditions. At that time everyone knew each other so well and there was a large Burgher community in the Fort. Later many of the families migrated abroad.

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