Oct 11 (IL) Solicitor General Mr. Priyasath Dep was appointed Acting Attorney General consequent to the retirement of former Attorney General Mr. C.R. de Silva P.C. by His Excellency the President with effect from 8th October, 2008. He was sworn in before His Lordship the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva P.C. on the 9th of October, 2008.

Priyasath Dep was enrolled as an Attorney-at-Law in October 1976 and joined the Attorney- General's Department as a State Counsel in January 1978 and was promoted to the post of Senior State Counsel in February 1989. He was appointed a Deputy Solicitor General in February 1996 and an Additional Solicitor General in October 1999.Mr. Dep was appointed a President's Counsel in April 2000. He was appointed as Solicitor General on 7 th April 2007 .

As a State Counsel Mr. Dep was attached to the Criminal Division and from 1978-1985. He conducted prosecutions in the High Court of Colombo and outstation High Courts. From 1985 -88 he was engaged in conducting prosecutions under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and also conducted prosecutions in Narcotic cases. In 1987 he led the evidence in Amarapala (Deputy Director of Customs) Murder case.

He was promoted to the post of Senior State Counsel in February 1989. From 1990-1997 he appeared for the State and Public Corporations in civil cases in the District Courts. He also appeared in the Court of Appeal in Writ Applications and in District Court (Final) Appeals.

In 1997 he reverted to the Criminal Division and among other duties he was engaged in supervising the work of the legal officers of the criminal division. He regularly appeared in the Supreme Court and in the Court of Appeal in criminal appeals. In 2002 he led the prosecution in Sevwandi Murder case before a Trial -At-Bar In the same case he successfully argued the appeal before the Supreme Court. In 2004 he was nominated to argue the appeal in Sujith Prassanna Perera (Superintendent of Customs) Murder case and successfully argued the appeal in the Supreme Court.

Priyasath Dep had his primary and secondary education at St. Joseph's College, Colombo. At school he excelled in studies and sports. He represented College in Athletics, Rugger and Soccer.

He is the eldest son of eldest son of late A.C.Dep former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police and Mrs Tecla Dep of Welligampitiya , Ja-ela.