President's Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, a well-known criminal lawyer, passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo, family sources said.

He was also the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Italy.

Born in Tangalle, Warnakulasuriya received his education at Royal College, Colombo.

He entered the legal profession in 1972 and also functioned as the Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. 

He was 74 at the time of his demise.