Kanchani Damintha Pathirana etched his name in history as the first and only Sri Lankan lawyer officially registered with the Federation of Japanese Bar Associations. His remarkable success is a testament to his perseverance, dedication and trailblazing spirit; This spirit has inspired many Sri Lankans who aim to make their mark on the global stage.

Born in Kandy, Ms. Pathirana’s educational journey began at Giragama Primary School in Pilimathalawa, where she laid the foundation for her academic success. After passing the 5th Class Scholarship Examination, she studied at Viharamaha Devi Girls’ College and then at Kandy Girls’ High School. His outstanding performance in the Advanced Level examinations in 2002 earned him triple A grades, ranking 3rd in the Kandy Region and 27th in the entire island, which earned him admission to the prestigious Colombo Law School.

After completing his studies at the Colombo Faculty of Law, he was called to the bar in 2008 and took the oath before the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Ms. Pathirana began her legal career working at the Hulftsdorp premises under the mentorship of Senior Counsels Daya Guruge and Samantha Vithana. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 2010, where he served as a Lieutenant – Legal Officer, adding a unique dimension to his legal career.

He moved to Japan in 2014, where he continued his education at Yokohama National University and Hitotsubashi University. His academic journey in Japan equipped him with the knowledge and competencies necessary to enter the highly competitive Japanese legal arena. In March 2022, he achieved the historic achievement of becoming the first Sri Lankan lawyer to be registered with both the Japanese Federation Bar Association and the Tokyo Daini Bar Association.

Currently a partner at Atsumi & Sakai, one of Japan’s top law firms, Ms. Pathirana focuses on strengthening economic ties between Japan and Sri Lanka. It is at the forefront of efforts to attract Japanese investors to Sri Lanka, aiming to boost the country’s economic development. Towards the end of November 2024, Atsumi & Sakai will host its first seminar on “Doing Business in Sri Lanka”, an event that will enable more than 8,000 Japanese investors to explore new opportunities in the island nation.