Muslim PersonalitiesTributes
A Tribute to Mr. Shibly Aziz PC: The Beacon of Hulftsdorp on the 6th Anniversary of his passing.
In 1998, standing on the threshold of my legal career, I was a village boy from Kalawewa, fresh from completing my law degree at the University of Colombo. It had been a journey that defied the odds. One out of 200 selected nationwide to study law, I had every reason to be proud, yet as the graduation day drew closer, I was plagued with doubt. Where did I belong in the vast world of law? Would a village boy like me find a place in a field dominated by legacies and elites?
It was at a career guidance event that fate intervened. Organized by the Law Faculty’s Alumni Association and presided over by the esteemed Justice Mark Fernando PC, it was teeming with corporate giants and senior lawyers. My peers were being absorbed into prestigious firms, while I stood on the sidelines, my rural background and hesitant English weighing heavily on me. A friend, Rohana, nudged me toward a panel headed by Mr. Shibly Aziz PC, former Attorney General and a towering figure in Sri Lankan law. Hesitant and unsure, I approached, expecting little more than a polite dismissal.
But Mr. Aziz had other plans.
With a warmth that belied his stature, he invited me to his chambers at Collingwood Place, Colombo. What seemed like an impossible door had been opened—a young, uncertain law graduate from a small village was given a chance to enter one of the most revered legal circles in the country.
My first day with Mr. Aziz was unforgettable. At the Supreme Court complex, as I fumbled nervously with my tie, he noticed and calmly took it upon himself to fix it for me. In that moment, I realized that this giant of the legal world wasn’t just a mentor in name but a true guide, willing to nurture those who sought his counsel. It wasn’t merely the knot of the tie he fixed that day; he set the course of my career straight.
Under Mr. Aziz’s wing, I was immersed in the world of Admiralty law, a field I had never imagined. I shadowed him in court, often too overwhelmed to fully grasp the legal intricacies, and yet he never let me drift. In his characteristic manner, he would ask questions, probe my understanding, and more often than not lightheartedly chastise me when I fumbled. His humility was astonishing for a man of his caliber. When I struggled with my English, he jested that I might make him forget his own. Despite the humor, I understood the deeper message: he was shaping me, little by little, into a lawyer who could hold his own.
Mr. Aziz was not just a mentor but also a man of immense compassion. He knew the challenges I faced living in Colombo, far from home and family, and without a word, he would slip me Rs. 1000, insisting I accept it. His understanding of the less privileged came from his own roots in Galle, from a family known for its service to the Muslim community. His father, Proctor Aziz, had founded the Ahadhiya Association to teach Islamic values to children, an initiative that Mr. Aziz himself carried forward.
When I was admitted as an Attorney-at-Law in 2000, Mr. Aziz’s advice was simple yet profound: “Start in the Magistrate’s Court, just like I did.” He had achieved the pinnacle of the profession, yet he remained grounded in the belief that true legal practice began at the grassroots. It was guidance that shaped the path I would follow.
Even after his retirement, Mr. Aziz remained a beacon. When I sought his counsel on a high-profile case, his response was as gracious as ever. He corrected just a single word in my letter, “perturbed” in place of “shocked,” and that small correction felt like an endorsement of all I had learned under his tutelage. He refused a consultation fee, insisting instead that I assist him as junior counsel. His humility was boundless, even at the height of his career.
Mr. Aziz’s integrity was legendary. When I later held public office, he declined to argue a case with me, citing the need for absolute neutrality. For him, the principles of fairness and justice were not just lofty ideals but lived values.
In his later years, I had the honor of witnessing Mr. Aziz take on the role of President of the Bar Association, making him the only individual to hawhJannahd both the Official Bar as Attorney General and the Private Bar as President. His influence spanned the entire legal profession, but his true legacy lay in the countless lives he touched with his wisdom, kindness, and quiet strength.
Mr. Aziz passed away on October 8, 2018, and today, as we mark the anniversary of his passing, his memory looms larger than ever. He left behind a legacy of integrity, compassion, and brilliance that continues to inspire the legal community and all who knew him. His absence is deeply felt, but his spirit lives on in all of us who had the privilege to learn from him.
In his honor, it is my resolve to establish a foundation to promote legal education and award gold medals to high achievers in Commercial Law, Shipping Law, and Administrative Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, and Sri Lanka Law College. I welcome anyone who shares this vision to join me in this endeavor, as we seek to honor a man who gave so much to the profession and to the world.
May Allah grant Mr. Shibly Aziz the highest place in Jannah. His legacy will continue to shine as a guiding light for all who follow in his footsteps.
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