The Plenary Session on Law of the 16^th International Research Conference of KDU was held under the theme ‘Law as a Facilitator: Growth, Equity and Governance’ on 07.09.2023, chaired by His Lordship Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

The speakers and the topics of their speeches were as follows:

• Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Education – Use of New Technologies of Digital Era for Education: Legal Perspectives
• Mohamad Ali Sabry, Minister of Foreign Affairs – Challenges to International Law on the Face of Digital Transformation
• Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation – Reforms in Maritime and Aviation Law for Economic Development
• Dr. Wijeyasdasa Rajapakshe, Minister of Justice – Proposed Legal Reforms for Promoting Equitable Development in the Digital Age
• Palitha Kumarasinghe PC – Novel Trends in Legal Education and the Role of Law Schools
• Kaushalya Nawarathne – Role of Law and Lawyer in the Contemporary Society

The speeches were followed by the release of the KDU Law Journal (Vol 3, Issue II) in both electronic and print forms.

Technical Sessions on Law were held on 08.09.2023 under the themes, ‘Constitutional Governance and Contemporary Challenges in Public Law’, ‘Business Law Reforms for Economic Development’, ‘Global Trends in International Law Jurisprudence’ and ‘Role of Law in Ensuring Justice and Fairness’ respectively. The sessions were chaired respectively by Mr. Shanaka Wijesinghe PC, Additional Solicitor General – Attorney General’s Department, Dr. Athula Pathinayake, Principal – Sri Lanka Law College, Mr. Madhava Tennakoon, Deputy Solicitor General – Attorney General’s Department, and Mr. Sumathi Dharmawardena PC, Additional Solicitor General – Attorney General’s Department.

Papers presented at the Technical Sessions were evaluated by a panel consisting of Mr. Mahesh Abeynayake, Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa, Mr. Lankanath Rathnayake, Independent Legal Practitioner, and Mr. Gamini Balasooriya, Partner, Sudath Perera Associates. The Award for the Best Paper Presentation was won by BMAHH Balasuriya  for her paper titled ‘Recognition of Principle of State Responsibility in Land Based Marine Pollution as a Response to State Sovereignty’.

The Poster Presentation was also held on the 07.09.2022, following the Plenary Session on Law. It was evaluated by a panel comprising Mr. Palitha Kumarasinghe PC, Ms. Priyani Wijesekara PC, Dr. Athula Pathinayake, Ms. Nirodha Kalansooriya and Mr. Kaushalya Nawarathne. The Award for the Best Poster Presentation was won by SM Rathnayake, YM Mayadunne and KO Liyanage, for the poster presented under the title, ‘ Legal Aspects of Challenges and Privacy Concerns in Establishing and Maintaining of Forensic DNA Database in Sri Lanka’.