Munasinghe Mabarana
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number9370/2005
Date01/01/2005
OutcomeSuspend - Indefinite
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Failures
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionSuspension
CostsGBP 6,240
Dishonesty foundNo
The respondent solicitor was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor for failing to pay the Law Society's costs/expenses, failing to reply to correspondence, and failing to comply with an adjudicator's decision. He did not appear. Given his disciplinary history and unresolved obligations, the Tribunal suspended him indefinitely until matters were resolved, ordered costs of £6,240, and directed that the adjudicator's directions be enforceable as High Court orders. No finding of dishonesty was made.
Duties found breached:
- Keep client informed and respond promptly
- Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
- Pay instructed practitioners and agents
Aggravating factors:
- Respondent had a prior disciplinary history (reprimand and conditions imposed on 23 November 2004)
- Failure to pay monies due to the Law Society that he had agreed to pay by instalments
- Failure to reply to his own professional body's correspondence, hindering its regulatory function