 In Sri Lanka (formally Ceylon) till 1973 Advocate was a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients.Advocates had to pass the HSC exam and enter the Ceylon Law College and follow the advocates course and sit for the relevant exams.Thereafter, they would have to practice under a senior advocate before being called to the bar for admission as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Ceylon.