Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
The University of Queensland
  • Study
  • Research
  • Partners and community
  • About
Law School
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Mission and strategy
    • Our people
    • News
    • History
    • An inspiring environment
    • Awards and achievements
  • Study
    • Study
    • Undergraduate study
    • Masters guide
    • PhDs and research master's degrees
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • Scholarships and prizes
  • Research
    • Research
    • Research themes
    • Research centres and groups
    • Partner with us
    • Publications and resources
    • Visitor Program
    • What's On
  • Current students
    • Current students
    • Announcements and policies
    • Assessment and examinations
    • Careers and overseas opportunities
    • Course information and support
    • HDR resources
    • Life and wellbeing
    • Mooting
    • Student societies
    • The Hub
    • Submit your feedback
  • Engage
    • Engage
    • Alumni
    • Research partners
    • Events
    • Give to the UQ Pro Bono Centre
    • High schools
  • Pro Bono
    • Pro Bono
    • About us
    • Our people
    • For students
    • For practitioners
    • News and Events
    • Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Project
    • LAWS5180: Clinical Legal Education
    • Publications
    • FAQs
  • Giving
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Staff directory
  • Study
  • Research
  • Partners and community
  • About
  • UQ home
  • News
  • Events
  • Give
  • Contact
  • UQ home
  • News
  • Events
  • Give
  • Contact
Law School
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission and strategy
    • Our people
    • News
    • History
    • An inspiring environment
    • Awards and achievements
  • Study
    • Undergraduate study
    • Masters guide
    • PhDs and research master's degrees
    • Continuing Professional Development
    • Scholarships and prizes
  • Research
    • Research themes
    • Research centres and groups
    • Partner with us
    • Publications and resources
    • Visitor Program
    • What's On
  • Current students
    • Announcements and policies
    • Assessment and examinations
    • Careers and overseas opportunities
    • Course information and support
    • HDR resources
    • Life and wellbeing
    • Mooting
    • Student societies
    • The Hub
    • Submit your feedback
  • Engage
    • Alumni
    • Research partners
    • Events
    • Give to the UQ Pro Bono Centre
    • High schools
  • Pro Bono
    • About us
    • Our people
    • For students
    • For practitioners
    • News and Events
    • Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Project
    • LAWS5180: Clinical Legal Education
    • Publications
    • FAQs
  • Giving
  • Contact
    • Staff directory

Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala

Emeritus Professor
TC Beirne School of Law
s.ratnapala@law.uq.edu.au
Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala

Publications

Books (7)
Book Chapters (21)
Journal Articles (25)
Conference Papers (5)

Books

Ratnapala, Suri (2024). Philosophy, law and culture of liberal democracy and the authoritarian challenge. Newcastle upon Tyne, England: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Ratnapala, Suri (2017). Jurisprudence. 3rd ed. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Ratnapala, Suri and Crowe, Jonathan (2012). Australian constitutional law: foundations and theory. 3rd ed. South Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Oxford University Press.
Ratnapala, Anura S. (2009). Jurisprudence. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
Ratnapala, S., John, Thomas, Karean, Vanitha and Koch, Cornelia (2007). Australian constitutional law: Commentary and cases. South Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Oxford University Press.
Ratnapala, Suri (2007). Australian constitutional law: Foundations and theory. 2nd ed. South Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Oxford University Press.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2002). Australian constitutional law, foundations & theory. 1 ed. Vic.: Oxford University Press.

Book Chapters

Ratnapala, Suri (2019). Reform and crisis: reflections on the culture of constitutional government in Sri Lanka. Constitutional reform and crisis in Sri Lanka. (pp. 240-262) edited by Asanga Welikala. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Ratnapala, Suri (2018). Decline and fall of Sri Lanka's judiciary and prospects for resurrection. Asia-Pacific judiciaries: independence, impartiality and integrity. (pp. 305-329) edited by H. P. Lee and Marilyn Pittard. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316480946.016
Ratnapala, Suri (2018). Liberal peace and its prospects in the twenty first century. A commitment to excellence: essays in honour of Emeritus Professor Gabriël A. Moens. edited by Augusto Zimmermann. Redland Bay, QLD, Australia: Connor Court Publishing.
Ratnapala, Suri (2016). The two theses of the philosophy of separating powers: who exercises power and how?. Judicial independence in Australia: contemporary challenges, future directions. (pp. 22-36) edited by Rebecca Ananian-Welsh and Jonathan Crowe. Annandale, NSW, Australia: Federation Press.
Ratnapala, Suri (2015). Failure of quasi-Gaullist presidentialism in Sri Lanka. Reforming Sri Lankan presidentialism - provenance, problems and prospects. (pp. 658-690) edited by Asanga Welikala. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Ratnapala, Anura S. (2012). Australian Constitutionalism: An Overview. Australian Constitutional Law: foundations and theory. (pp. 14-35) edited by Anura S. Ratnapala and Jonathan G. Crowe. Australia: Oxford University Press.
Ratnapala, Suri (2012). Foedus Pacificum: A response to ethnic regionalism within nation states. The future of Australian federalism: Comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives. (pp. 250-271) edited by Gabrielle Appleby, Nicholas T. Aroney and Thomas John. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511902550.016
Ratnapala, Suri and Moens, Gabriel A. (2011). Law, legal theory and liberty. Jurisprudence of Liberty. (pp. 1-15) edited by Suri Ratnapala and Gabriel A. Moens. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Ratnapala, Suri (2011). Law as a knowledge process. Jurisprudence of Liberty. (pp. 175-204) edited by Suri Ratnapala and Gabriel A. Moens. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Moens, Gabriel Adelin and Ratnapala, Anura S. (2011). The German border guard cases: natural law and the duty to disobey immoral laws. Jurisprudence of liberty. (pp. 271-292) Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Ratnapala, Suri (2011). Separation of powers: Cornerstone of liberty under law. Jurisprudence of Liberty. (pp. 53-81) edited by Suri Ratnapala and Gabriel A Moens. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Lexis Nexis Butterworths.
Ratnapala, Suri (2010). The jurisprudence of Friedrich A Hayek. The multi-layered Hayek. (pp. 45-59) edited by Oliver Marc Hartwich. St Leonards, N.S.W., Australia: Centre for Independent Studies.
Ratnapala, Suri (2010). Dissolving the chimera of the "Adam Smith problem". The market society and its morality: 250 years of Adam Smith's theory of moral sentiments. (pp. 39-55) edited by Michael Zöller and Manfred Petri. Bayreuth, Germany: Council on Public Policy, Universität Bayreuth.
Ratnapala, Anura S. (2010). The theory of moral sentiments : Adam Smith, 1759. 100 great books of liberty : The essential introduction to the greatest idea of Western Civilization. (pp. 199-207) edited by Chris Berg, John Roskam and Andrew Kemp. Ballan, Vic., Australia: Connor Court Publishing.
Ratnapala, Anura S. (2010). Law, legislation and liberty : Friedrich Hayek, 1973. 100 great books of liberty : The essential introduction to the greatest idea of Western Civilization. (pp. 22-27) edited by Chris Berg, John Roskam and Andrew Kemp. Ballan, Vic., Australia: Connor Court Publishing.
Ratnapala, Suri (2010). Constituent power of the Queensland Parliament. Queensland's Constitution: Past, present and future. (pp. 149-174) edited by Michael White and Aladin Rahemtula. Brisbane, Queensland: Supreme Court of Queensland Library.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2007). John Locke's doctrine of the separation of powers: A re-evaluation. Locke and Law. (pp. 244-274) edited by Thom Brooks. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2006). Moral Capital and Commercial Society. The Challenge of Liberty : Classical Liberalism Today. (pp. 97-121) edited by Robert Higgs and Carl Close. California, USA: The Independent Institute.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2006). Securing Constitutional Government: The Perpetual Challenge. The Challenge of Liberty: Classical Liberalism Today. (pp. 141-165) edited by Robert Higgs and Carl Close. California, USA: The Independent Institute.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2003). Sir William Webb: A hobbesian jurist?. Queensland Judges on the High Court. (pp. 133-150) edited by Dr Michael white; Aladin Rahemtula. Brisbane, Queensland: Supreme Court of Queensland Library.
Ratnapala, A. S. (1999). Federalism as a response to ethnic regionalism. Federalism : comparative perspectives from India and Australia. (pp. 113-136) edited by I. Copeland and J. Rickard. New Delhi: Manohar.

Journal Articles

Pulle, Austin I. and Ratnapala, Suri (2019). Sri Lanka's quest for a reformed constitution: Lessons froma lost opportunity. Chinese Journal of Comparative Law, 7 (2), 285-308. doi: 10.1093/cjcl/cxz011
Ratnapala, Suri (2019). Defending liberal democracy and liberal peace in the time of rising populism and fascism. Centre for Independent Studies Analysis Papers (Analysis Paper 3), 1-23.
Ratnapala, Suri (2018). Enlightenment under siege: are the obituaries premature?. Policy: A Journal of Public Policy and Ideas, 34 (2), 57-62.
Ratnapala, Suri (2014). Fiscal federalism in Australia: will Williams v Commonwealth be a pyrrhic victory?. University of Queensland Law Journal, 33 (1), 63-82.
Ratnapala, Anura (2012). Economics of collective choice: the missing dimension of constitutional theory. Public Choice, 152 (3), 461-466. doi: 10.1007/s11127-012-0001-6
Ratnapala, Suri and Crowe, Jonathan (2012). Broadening the reach of chapter III: The institutional integrity of state curts and the constitutional limits of state legislative power. Melbourne University Law Review, 36 (1), 175-215.
Crowe, Jonathan and Ratnapala, Suri (2012). Military justice and Chapter III: the constitutional basis of courts martial. Federal Law Review, 40 (2), 161-180. doi: 10.1177/0067205x1204000202
Ratnapala, Suri (2010). Bills of rights in functioning parliamentary democracies: Kantian, consequentialist and institutionalist scepticisms. Melbourne University Law Review, 34 (2), 592-617.
Ratnapala, Anura S. (2008). The Role of Government in a Liberal Society. Centre for Independent Studies Occasional Papers (118), 1-20.
S Ratnapala (2008). Constitutionalism of Justice Ian Callinan. Supreme Court History Program Yearbook 2007, 2007 (1), 105-109.
Ratnapala, Suri (2007). 'Reviving the invisible hand: the case for classical liberalism in the twenty-first century', by Deepak Lal. The Independent Review, 12 (2), 285-290.
Ratnapala, Suri (2007). Reason and reach of the objection to ex post facto law. Indian Journal of Constitutional Law, 1 (1), 140-168.
Ratnapala, Suri (2007). Environmentalism versus constitutionalism: A contest without winners. Resource Management Theory and Practice, 3, 110-164.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2005). Cultural Diversity and Liberal Society. The Independent Review, 10 (2), 249-271.
Ratnapala, Suri (2005). 'Conversations with the constitution', by Greg Craven. Adelaide Law Review, 26 (1), 185-188.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2004). Sri Lanka at the constitutional crossroads: Gaullist Presidentialism, Westminster democracy or tripartite separation of powers. LAWASIA, 2003/4, 33-56.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2004). Vegetation management in Queensland: A case of constitutional vandalism. The Institute of Public Affairs Review, 56 (4), 10-11.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2003). Securing constitutional government: The perpetual challenge. The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy, VIII (1), 5-26.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2003). Moral capital and commercial society. The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy, 8 (2), 213-233.
Ratnapala, Suri (2001). Eighteenth-century evolutionary thought and its relevance in the age of legislation. Constitutional Political Economy, 12 (1), 51-75. doi: 10.1023/A:1016681121137
Ratnapala, A.S. (2001). Eighteenth-century evolutionary thought and its relevance in the age of legislation. Constitutional Political Economy, 12 (1), 51-73.
Ratnapala, A.S. (2001). Government under the law: The ebb and flow of sovereignty in Australia. The University of New South Wales Law Journal, 24 (3), 670-687.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2000). Republican's debt to liberalism. Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy, 25 (2), 143-152.
Ratnapala, A. S. (1999). The idea of a constitution and why constitutions matter. Policy, 15 (4), 3-10.
Ratnapala, A. S. (1999). The case for adopting the American model in an Australian republic. University of Queensland Law Journal, 20 (2), 242-249.

Conference Papers

Ratnapala, Anura S. (2010). Jurisprudential legacy of the enlightenment: Saving the impartial spectator. 2010 Mont Pelerin Society General Meeting: A Twenty-First Century Liberal Enlightenment, Sydney, Australia, 10-15 October 2010.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2007). The role of government in a liberal society. The Institutional Framework for Freedom in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 25-28 February 2007. Nairobi, Kenya: Mont Pelerin Society.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2006). Environmentalism versus constitutionalism: A contest without winners. Joint Meeting of the Law and Economics Association of New Zealand and the New Zealand Association of Economists, Wellington, New Zealand, 28 June 2006. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Business Roundtable.
Ratnapala, Suri (2005). Constitutional vandalism under green cover. 17th Conference of the Samuel Griffith Society, Greenmount, QLD Australia, 8-10 April, 2005. Sydney, NSW: The Samuel Griffith Society.
Ratnapala, A. S. (2000). Doing well & doing right: thoughts on moral capital & economic performance. 8th International Congress of professors world peace academy, Lotte Hotel, Korea, 10-14 February, 2000. Korea: 8th International Prof. World Peace Congress.

Areas of research

Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law
Australian Aboriginal Flag Torres Strait Islander Flag UQ acknowledges the Traditional Owners and their custodianship of the lands on which UQ is situated. — Reconciliation at UQ
  • Media

    • Media team contacts
    • Find a subject matter expert
    • UQ news
  • Working at UQ

    • Current staff
    • Careers at UQ
    • Strategic plan
    • Staff support
    • IT support for staff
  • Current students

    • my.UQ
    • Programs and courses
    • Key dates
    • Student support
    • IT support for students
  • Library

    • Library
    • Locations and hours
    • Library services
    • Research tools
  • Contact

    • Contact UQ
    • Find a researcher
    • Faculties, schools, institutes and centres
    • Divisions and departments
    • Campuses, maps and transport
    • Media team contacts
    • Find a subject matter expert
    • UQ news
    • Current staff
    • Careers at UQ
    • Strategic plan
    • Staff support
    • IT support for staff
    • my.UQ
    • Programs and courses
    • Key dates
    • Student support
    • IT support for students
    • Library
    • Locations and hours
    • Library services
    • Research tools
    • Contact UQ
    • Find a researcher
    • Faculties, schools, institutes and centres
    • Divisions and departments
    • Campuses, maps and transport
Web login
  • © The University of Queensland
  • ABN: 63 942 912 684
  • CRICOS: 00025B
  • TEQSA: PRV12080
  • Privacy and terms of use
  • Accessibility
  • Right to information
  • Feedback