| ● Human Rights | ● Consumer Affairs |
| ● Elders’ Rights | ● Family Matters |
| ● Rights of the Disabled | ● Industrial Relations |
| ● Women’ Rights | ● Property Disputes |
| ● Children’s Rights | ● Environmental Issues |
| ● Patients’ Right | ● Domestic Violence |
Guest Lecture on the Life and Time as a Law Student: Skills, Competencies and Attitudes Required to be Learnt to Become Good Legal Professional
A Guest Lecture organised by the Legal Aid Centre of the Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was held on 29.02.2024 with the participation of the first-year undergraduates of the Faculty of Law, to enhance their knowledge of the necessary skills, competencies, and attitudes to be successful legal professionals in the future.
The Guest Speaker was Kaushalya Nawaratna PC, a renowned Legal Practitioner, specializing in civil and commercial litigation with special emphasis on Banking Law, Company Law, Arbitration Law, Labour Law, Matrimonial Law and Land Law, who presently serves as the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. He is also an Arbitrator and also a Senior Consultant for Financial and Banking Institutions. He had functioned earlier as an Executive Committee Member of the Law Asia International Conference.
His lecture focused on the importance of acquiring a specific set of knowledge and skills because legal professionals must be able to advocate on behalf of their clients, whether in courts, negotiations, or other legal settings. At the same time, he emphasized that acquiring the necessary skills, competencies, and attitudes is essential for not only excelling in the legal profession but also for upholding the integrity of the legal system. This session was facilitated by Ms. Piyumi Lekamge, Lecturer (Probationary) and Coordinator of the Legal Aid Centre, Faculty of Law of KDU.
Guest Lecture on the Importance of International Investment Law for Economic Revival
A Guest Lecture organised by the Legal Aid Centre of the Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was held on 12.02.2024 with the participation of the final year undergraduates of the Faculty of Law, to enhance their knowledge of International Investment Law which is essential for fostering international economic cooperation and attracting foreign investments.
The Guest Speaker was Prof. Sri Lal Perera, Adjunct Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Miami, Ohio, United States. Prof. Perera is a renowned scholar in the field of Transnational International Investment Law and he had served at Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), World Bank and other tribunals.
His lecture focused on the importance of a robust international investment framework that can stimulate economic growth by facilitating the transfer of technology, knowledge, and skills across borders. At the end of his insightful lecture, Professor Perera emphasized the need for a sound international investment legal framework which would help create an environment in which diverse businesses can thrive, leading to a more resilient and dynamic economy. This session was coordinated by Ms. Piyumi Lekamge, Lecturer (Probationary) and Coordinator of the Legal Aid Centre, Faculty of Law of KDU.
A Guest Lecture on International Environmental Law
A guest lecture entitled “Incorporation of International Environmental Law Principles into Sri Lankan Legal Framework” by Dr. Sumudu Atapattu, Director of the Centre for Global Legal Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA was held on 04.01.2024 at the auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. Dr. Sumudu Atapattu is an internationally reputed jurist in the field of International Environmental Law, especially inareas related to climate change and human rights.
She is affiliated with UW-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Global Health Institute, Centre for South Asia, and 4W Initiative. She was also a Visiting Professor at Doshisha University Law School, Japan (2014); Justus Liebig University, Germany (2016-2022); and Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain (2019). As a prolific writer, her works include “UN Human Rights Institutions and the Environment: Synergies, Challenges, Trajectories” (Routledge, forthcoming, 2023); Handbook of Environmental Justice and Sustainable Development (2021, Cambridge); Human Rights and the Environment: Key Issues (Routledge, 2019); “Human Rights Approaches to Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities” (2015, Routledge); “International Environmental Law and the Global South” (2015, Cambridge); and “Emerging Principles of International Environmental Law” (2006, Transnational Publishers, New York).
During her lecture, Dr. Atapattu discussed the importance of North-South dialogue in climate change issues and also pointed out the state’s responsibilities in ensuring the Paris Accords and the Rio Declaration. The lecture was followed by a Q&A session with the students and the academic staff at the Faculty of Law.
The event was organized by the (KDU EARTH) and the Department of International Law at the Faculty of Law to enhance the legal knowledge of the students studying Environmental Law at the Faculty of Law.
A Guest Lecture on Arbitration Law
A Guest Lecture on Arbitration Law organized by the Legal Aid Centre of the Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University was held on the 09th of October 2023 with the participation of the final year undergraduates of the Faculty of Law. This was the last session of the Guest Lecture series organized by the Legal Aid Centre for the year 2023 with the view of educating the students both on the practical aspects and the theoretical aspects of Arbitration Law.
The resource person was Mr. Nigel Hatch PC. He is currently a practising lawyer specializing in the areas of Arbitration Law, Business Law, Corporate Law and Labour and Employment Law. The lecture focused on the Arbitration Act of Sri Lanka, the loopholes of the Act and the practical issues the lawyers are facing when practising in this area. This session was coordinated by Ms. Piyumi Lekamge, Lecturer (Probationary) and Coordinator of the Legal Aid Centre, Faculty of Law of KDU.
A guest lecture on ‘Climate Change, and Earth jurisprudence’
A guest lecture on ‘Climate Change, and Earth jurisprudence’ organised by the Legal Aid Centre of the Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was held on 20.02.2023 with the participation of the Final Year Undergraduates of the Faculty of Law (Intake 37). This was the first session of the Guest Lecture Series organised by the Legal Aid Centre in the year 2023 with the view of educating the students on practical aspects of Law while providing guidance for career development.
The Resource Persons were Ms. Chamindri Saparamadu, Director General, Sustainable Development Council, and Mr. Hemantha Vithanage, Senior Advisor, Centre for Environmental Justice. Their lecture focused on the responsibilities of the Sustainable Development Council, Sustainable development Goals, Earth Jurisprudence, and relevant judicial decisions in Environmental Litigation laws in Sri Lanka. It was coordinated by Ms. Darshane Jayakody, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the Legal Aid Centre, Faculty of Law, KDU.
Guest Lecture on Life Skills for Gen Z Legal Professionals
A Guest Lecture on ‘Life Skills for Gen Z Legal Professionals’ organized by the Legal Aid Centre of the Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University was held on 20th January, 2022 with the participation of the final year undergraduates of the Faculty of Law. This was the first session of the Guest Lecture Series organised by the Legal Aid Centre for 2022 with the view of educating the students with practical aspects of Law and providing guidance for career development.
The Guest Speaker of this session was Mr. Malika Amarasekera who is an Attorney at Law and a renowned Career Coach in both legal and management disciplines. His lecture dealt with the essential life skills required for the overall development of a successful legal professional.
This session provided the students with an invaluable opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary learning and to gain knowledge on real-world experiences which they could effectively utilize upon entering the legal profession. It was coordinated by Ms. Darshane Jayakody, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, KDU and Mr. Anushka Perera, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, KDU.
Webinar on Legal and Ethical Aspects of Compulsory Vaccination
A webinar on Legal and Ethical Aspects of Compulsory Vaccination conducted by the Legal Aid Centre, Faculty of Law, KDU was held on 14th October 2021. An eminent panel of speakers representing legal and medical fields namely, Professor Susirith Mendis, Senior Professor of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, KDU, Professor Jean Perera, Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Chandana Liyanapatabendy PC and Mr Chanakya Jayadeva, Attorney at Law contributed to the webinar. Professor Mendis and Professor Perera stressed on the four pillars of medical ethics, the efficacy of a vaccine and collective responsibility of the public to be vaccinated in the interests of the greater good. Chandana Liyanapatabendy PC and Mr. Chankya Jayadeva provided a holistic overview of the applicable laws in Sri Lanka, a detailed analysis of their specific application to the COVID-19 Pandemic and international legal precedents which lay down principles relevant to mandatory vaccination. The participants of the webinar included members of academia and LLB undergraduates of Faculty of Law, KDU and others interested. The session concluded with an interactive Question and Answer session. It was organized by Ms. Lihini De Silva, Coordinator, Legal Aid Centre and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, KDU and Mr. Anushka Perera, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, KDU and was moderated by Ms. Indira Ratwatte, Lecturer, Faculty of Law.
Webinar on Port City Legal Framework
A webinar on Port City Legal Framework organized by the Legal Aid Centre, Faculty of Law, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) was held on 27th July 2021 from 0900hrs to 1100hrs. The members of the esteemed panel of speakers were Nihal Jayawardene PC, Dr Asanga Gunawansa, Navin Marapana PC and Dr Dilini Pathirana.
Nihal Jayawardena PC focused on the topic ‘Port City Act: Structure and Purpose’ where Navin Marapana PC dealt with the topic ‘Port City: Vistas of New Legal Dimensions’. Dr Dilini Pathirana highlighted the ‘International Investment Law Perspective of the Port City Project’ while Dr Asanga Gunawansa shared insights on ‘A New Resolution Regime for the Port City?’.
The participants of the webinar included the undergraduates of the LLB and BSc (Strategic Studies and International Relations). The webinar concluded with an engaging Question and Answer session between the panelists and the participants moderated by Ms Lihini De Silva, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, and Coordinator of the Legal Aid Centre, KDU.
Webinar on Environmental Law: National and International Perspectives.
Contact:
Legal Aid Centre,
Faculty of Law,
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University,
Kandawala Road,
Ratmalana.
Tel. 0112 623028
E mail. law.faculty@kdu.ac.lk