The Plenary Session on Law of the 17th International Research Conference of KDU took place on 26.09.2024 under the theme, “Conquering Traditional Frontiers: Challenges Presented to Law by New Technologies” chaired by His Lordship Jayantha Jayasuriya PC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
This session featured the following distinguished speakers who addressed key challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements:
- Parinda Ranasinghe PC, Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department – Regulating Artificial Intelligence: Inventions and Legal Accountability
- M.U.M. Ali Sabry PC, Former Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, and Minister of Foreign Affairs – Diplomacy in the Digital Age: Role of International Law’
- Palitha Kumarasinghe PC, Chairman, Standing Committee on Legal Studies, University Grants Commission – Future-Proofing Legal Education: Integrating Technological Advances into Legal Education
- Kaushalya Nawarathna PC, Former President, Bar Association of Sri Lanka – Legal Profession in the Digital Age: Embracing Change and Meeting New Challenges
During the Plenary Session, the Issue III, Vol. 4 of KDU Law Journal was officially released by the Vice Chancellor in both electronic and print formats.
The Technical Sessions on Law were held on 27.09.2024, focusing on four pivotal themes that addressed the intersection of law and technological advancement. These key themes included Emerging New Technologies and Public Law: Need for an Innovative Approach, Evolving Trends in Business Law in Response to Novel Technologies, Current Shreds in International Jurisprudence in the Light of New Technologies, Jurisprudential Transformation for Synergy with Artificial Intelligence. The technical sessions were chaired by Shanaka Wijesinghe PC, Ms. Darshanee Jayakody, Ms. Tilani de Silva , and Sumathi Dharmawardena PC, respectively.
The papers presented during the Technical Sessions were evaluated by a panel consisting of Mr. Mahesh Abeynayake, Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa; Dr. Lankanath Rathnayake, Independent Legal Practitioner; and Mr. Gamini Balasooriya, Partner, Sudath Perera Associates.
The Poster Session on Law was held on 26.09.2024, following the Plenary Session. The evaluation panel comprised Parinda Ranasinghe PC, Hon. Attorney General, Palitha Kumarasinghe PC, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Legal Studies at the University Grants Commission, and Ravindra Pathirage PC, Additional Solicitor General, Attorney General’s Department.
Awards for the best presenter in each Technical Session were won by Shevan Lakpriya De Silva, AKS De Silva, KAAN Thilakarathna and RM Jayanath Ranatunga respectively. The award for the Best Poster was won by Ms. C. Mahingoda.
