The Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), in collaboration with KDU-EARTH, organized a panel discussion titled ‘Disposing Waste with Care: The Constitutional Duties of Citizens,’ which was held on July 3, 2025. The event brought together legal experts and environmental specialists to examine citizens’ responsibilities on responsible waste management under Article 28(f) of Sri Lanka’s Constitution.
The panel discussion featured four distinguished speakers who addressed various aspects of waste management from their professional perspectives. Dr. Ravindranath Dabare, Attorney-at-Law and Senior Advisor at the Centre for Environmental Justice, provided legal insights on citizens’ environmental duties on responsible waste management. Mr. Hemantha Withanage, Chairperson of the Centre for Environmental Justice, examined civil society’s involvement in sustainable waste management practices. Dr. Lakmini Radhika, Director of the Environmental Promotion Unit at the Central Environmental Authority, shared technical perspectives on waste management frameworks and citizen participation. YMJ Bandara Yapa, Inspector of Police from the Environmental Protection Division of Sri Lanka Police discussed the enforcement mechanisms to ensure public compliance with waste management regulations. The panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Asanka Edirisinghe, Senior Lecturer at Faculty of Law and Coordinator of KDU-EARTH.
The discussion provided first-year law students with a comprehensive understanding of responsible waste management, both legal framework and practical implementation. By combining legal, technical, and enforcement perspectives, the panel underscored the collective responsibility of citizens in addressing Sri Lanka’s waste management challenges. The event marked an important step in fostering environmental accountability among future legal professionals.
