International Research Conference 2020 General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University KDU 6

International Research Conference 2020

The Plenary Session on Law of the 13th International Research Conference of KDU was held under the theme ‘The Role of Law in National Growth and Security’ on the 15th October 2020, chaired by His Lordship Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

Following are the other speakers and the topics of their speeches:

  • His Lordship Yasantha Kodagoda, Judge of the Supreme Court – ‘Sri Lanka, Its National Security and the Law’.
  • Justice Mohan Peiris PC, Former Chief Justice – ‘The Rule of Law in the Globalized Society’.
  • Dr Charika Marasinghe, Senior Consultant in Human Rights and Child Rights – ‘Holistic Approach to National Growth and Security: A Global and Local Perspective’.
  • Rear Admiral (Retd.) Shavindra Fernando PC, Deputy President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka – ‘The Need to Strengthen the Legal Framework to Ensure Security Concerns’.


The Technical Sessions on Law of the Conference were held on the 16th October 2020 under four main themes ‘Expanding the Horizons of Commercial Law for National Prosperity’, ‘Emerging Trends in Public Law: Legal and Economic Perspectives’, ‘Contemporary Challenges and the Role of Private Law’ and ‘Role of Law in Pursuit of Justice’ and they were chaired respectively by Dr. Chathura Warnasuriya, Justice Mohan Peiris PC, Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekera and Shavindra Fernando, PC.

Papers presented at the Technical Sessions were evaluated by a panel consisting of Dr. Dantha Rodrigo PC, Former Principal, Sri Lanka Law College, Dr Sampath Punchihewa, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and Dr Aravinda Fernando, Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Law, KDU. The award for the Best Paper Presentation was won by Ms. Shenali C. Dias for the paper titled ‘Copyright Protection of Application Programme Interfaces: An Analysis of the Sri Lankan Position’.

The Poster Session on Law was held on the 15th of October 2020 following the Plenary Session, which were evaluated by a panel chaired by His Lordship the Chief Justice. The award for the best Poster Presentation was won by Ms. Hashini A. Jinasena presented under the title ‘Proportionality as a Separate Ground of Judicial Review: A Myth or Reality in United Kingdom and Sri Lanka’.