Date & Venue: 27–28 January 2024, at the University of Jaffna (Hoover Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Organisers: The Department of Law (University of Jaffna) in collaboration with Surana & Surana International Attorneys (Chennai)
Distinguished guests & keynotes:
Chief Guests: Mr. Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC (Attorney-General) on 27 Jan; Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC (Supreme Court) on 28 Jan.
Guests of Honour: Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy (former UN Under-Secretary-General / human-rights advocate); Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, PC (constitutional expert)
Keynote speakers: Dr. K. Kanag‑Isvaran, PC; Emeritus Prof. M. Sornarajah (National University of Singapore); Prof. Rohit De (Yale University); Dr. Vinod Surana (CEO/Managing Partner, Surana & Surana)
Themes / discussions:
Panel: “The Future of Public Law in Sri Lanka: Crises and Opportunities” chaired by Mr. V. T. Thamilmaran; panelists included Prof. D. Samararatne, N. Perera (Transparency International Sri Lanka), Dr. N. de Mel, Mr. Th. Weragoda.
Panel: “The Law’s Role in Overcoming Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis” with Dr. N. de Mel (moderator/panelist), Dr. M. Thiruvarangan, Dr. K. Karunaanithy, Ms. Bhavani Fonseka.
Abstract presentations: 23 abstracts from universities in India, UK, Canada and Sri Lanka under four clusters: Rights; Legal Institutions; Commercial Dimensions; International Dimensions.
Significance: The conference attracted practitioners, academics, students from Sri Lanka and abroad, positioning Jaffna as a growing node for legal dialogue in South Asia.
Date & Venue: 25 & 26 January 2025, at the Hoover Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna.
Theme: “Law: Gentle Civilizer of Change – Engage, Transform, Sustain”
Distinguished guests & keynotes:
Chief Guest (Day 1): Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
Guest of Honour (Day 1): Ms. Kishali Pinto‑Jayawardena, Commissioner, Right to Information Commission.
Keynotes Day 1: Prof. Dian Shah (National University of Singapore) – on Governance Transformation; Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne – on Digital Transformation.
Day 2: Chief Guest: Justice Janak de Silva, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. Guest of Honour: Mrs. Chamantha Unamboowe, PC, Chairperson, Legal Standing Committee, UGC.
Keynotes Day 2: Prof. N. Selvakkumaran – on Pedagogical Transformation; Ms. Shyamala Gomez – on Cultural Transformation.
Topics & Focus:
Panels & sessions: “A People’s Constitution? The Way Forward” (moderated by Ms. Bhavani Fonseka; panellists included Prof. V.T. Thamilmaran, Dr. Kalana Senaratne, Dr. Jayantha de Almeida Guneratne PC).
Other sessions addressed: economic development & law, environmental justice & climate change, human rights & democracy, family law & gender equity, AI and law.
Significance: The edition reaffirmed the role of law as an agent of transformation and sustainability, engaging academic, practitioner and student communities. Being in Jaffna, in the Northern Province, adds regional significance.