The University of Colombo is taking a bold step towards advancing regional collaboration on sustainability through the Indo-Lanka Environmental Law Week, scheduled to begin today (Oct. 15). Spearheaded by Vice Chancellor Professor Indika Karunathilake, the week-long initiative underscores the University’s growing leadership in environmental governance, education, and policy innovation across South Asia.

The event will bring together 35 Indian law students from Amity Law School and 15 Sri Lankan students from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo. Over seven days, participants will engage in lectures, field visits, and policy workshops focusing on critical legal doctrines — including the Polluter Pays Principle, Public Trust Doctrine, and Intergenerational Equity — as well as practical sessions on environmental governance.

The programme, organised in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy, Amity Law School, and the Commonwealth Legal Education Association, will conclude with the Indo-Lanka Policy Dialogue on Regional Environmental Cooperation, on October 22, at the University’s Senate Hall.

Vice Chancellor Professor Karunathilake said the University’s vision goes far beyond academic dialogue.

“As a university, we want to turn knowledge into action,” he told The Island. “Environmental protection is not just a classroom subject — it’s a moral responsibility. We must convert best practices and academic insights into real-world interventions that make a measurable difference.”

He said the initiative reflects the University’s commitment to bridging policy and practice, particularly in areas such as bioplastics, waste management, and marine pollution.

“Our goal is to create impact — not just discussion. We need to promote innovations that lead to a cleaner, greener Sri Lanka,” the Vice Chancellor said. “Environmental sustainability must become part of our national culture.”

Professor Karunathilake added that the initiative represents the University’s growing global engagement, linking regional collaboration with the larger sustainability agenda.

Director of the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy, Professor Kokila Konasinghe, described the Environmental Law Week as a pioneering move for the region.

“For the first time, we are working beyond national borders on environmental law,” she said. “Environmental problems, such as global warming, marine pollution, and biodiversity loss, don’t stop at boundaries. Collaboration is the only way forward.”

Professor Konasinghe said the programme will end with a policy framework that captures regional solutions to shared environmental challenges.

“This is a need of our time,” she emphasised. “We are bringing policymakers, the judiciary, and youth together — because intergenerational equity must guide all decisions. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s judges and lawmakers in India and Sri Lanka.”

Marine protection, she said, will be a central focus, with special attention to post-disaster recovery and sustainable coastal management.

“The X-Press Pearl disaster is a painful reminder that marine pollution has long-lasting consequences. The Law of the Sea will be a key topic, with experts discussing how to strengthen legal and policy frameworks for ocean governance,” she noted.

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor N.S. Punchihewa, highlighted the significance of the upcoming policy dialogue on October 22, which will bring together key representatives from the Indian Embassy, BIMSTEC Secretariat, legal institutions, and environmental experts.

“This dialogue will strengthen environmental protection within the BIMSTEC framework,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to build partnerships and promote cross-fertilisation of ideas between Sri Lanka and India.”

He said the Faculty’s first-ever summer school on environmental law will serve as an important platform for innovation.

“Our students will discuss legal and policy solutions that can shape the future of environmental governance in the region. The Indian Ocean connects us — it also connects our challenges,” Professor Punchihewa explained. “Through cooperation, we can turn shared vulnerabilities into shared strengths.”

The Indo-Lanka Environmental Law Week represents a new chapter in South Asia’s legal and environmental collaboration — one that transforms theory into action and education into impact.

By combining academic excellence, youth engagement, and policy dialogue, the University of Colombo is positioning itself as a regional hub for environmental leadership, setting the tone for how the next generation of lawyers and policymakers will respond to the defining challenge of our time: protecting the planet we share.

By Ifham Nizam