After qualifying Palakidnar
practised law in
Colombo as a junior under C. Renganathan. He joined the Judicial Service in 1966, serving as a magistrate in
Anuradhapura,
Ratnapura and
Jaffna. He was then a District Judge in
Kalmunai,
Chavakachcheri and Jaffna. He served as a High Court Judge between 1982 and 1987, serving in
Chilaw,
Negombo,
Batticaloa and
Trincomalee. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1987, becoming its president in October 1992. ==Later life==