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Private Bar and Legal Academia interact at Law Faculty Diamond Jubilee
The Faculty of Law convened a “Dialogue between the Private Bar and Legal Academia” on the February 9. 2023 as a part of the ongoing celebrations to mark its Diamond Jubilee. Members of the private bar and law academics were welcomed to the event by the Dean of the Law Faculty, Prof (Dr) Sampath Punchihewa. In his remarks, Prof Punchihewa highlighted the commitment of the Faculty to strengthen the relationship between legal academia and the bar. He further recalled that a dynamic partnership with the bar is essential to the Faculty of Law in fulfilling its mandate.
The Dialogue consisted of two panel discussions. The first was chaired by Prof Naazima Kamardeen and explored the relationship between the private bar and legal academia from a South Asian Perspective. Dr Saif Mahmood, an advocate of the Supreme Court of India and a visiting researcher at the University of Oxford, delivered the keynote address. Speaking from the perspective of a practitioner, he noted that “[We] will both have to give up [our] imperiousness” and engage in a more holistic approach towards strengthening the more common legal language between the private bar and academia and reduce the gap between academic perspectives and practical application of the law.
Emeritus Prof Savitri Goonesekere, in her response, took the view that an effective academic legal education brings together the theoretical and the practical. She emphasised that academics of the modern day need to identify that the “ethos” for both academics and practitioners needs to be the same while keeping the Constitution and constitutional values as the bedrock of legal education – be it at the academic’s desk or at the practitioner’s table.
The President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mr Saliya Pieris PC, took the view that there is a gap between legal academia and practice today. He further reflected on the need to provide law students with more opportunities to gain experience and exposure to litigation and work done in furtherance of the administration of justice. Mr Pieris emphasised that in all these efforts, it is essential to focus on the human element. He observed that there are instances in which practitioners lose the humane outlook on their work.
The second panel focused on insights and the way forward with regards to the relationship between the private bar and academia. It was chaired by Mr Geoffrey Alagaratnam PC, a Faculty Board member of the Faculty of Law and a former president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. Speaking as a discussant at this panel, Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Yasantha Kodagoda PC observed that administration of justice in Sri Lanka can be improved further if leading law academics could join the appellate judiciary.
Justice Kodagoda welcomed the critical review of jurisprudence by academics and made several other recommendations for strengthening the relationship between the private bar and legal academia. Emeritus Prof Sharya Scharenguivel approached the issue from a slightly different angle. She cited Prof Nadarajah, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, who had stated that legal education cannot fulfil its function without the support of the legal profession. She traced and recalled Sri Lanka’s legacy of an effective harmony between the private bar and legal academia. President elect of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Mr Kaushalya Navaratne, observed that students see a gap between what they learn and what they see in courts.
He recommended setting up programs to bridge the gap between the bar and academia for the betterment of the legal profession and the administration of justice. The panel agreed on the fact that while academic disagreement is healthy, it should be performed with professionalism, on a rational basis and with courtesy. It was also agreed that ensuring continuity and collaborative programs to foster the relationship between the bar and academia with “clear, reasonable, dignified critique” is important. The panel further noted the prospects for law academics to contribute to alternative methods of dispute resolution such as mediation, arbitration and conciliation.
A dynamic discussion followed. Several key issues were raised and discussed including the question of medium of instruction in legal education, systematic and collaborative review of jurisprudence and institutional linkages between legal academia and the private bar. In concluding the Dialogue, Prof Dinesha Samararatne observed that a legal system, its institutions and stakeholders constitute an ecosystem, and that this ecosystem will function effectively only if each professional – be it an academic or a practicing lawyer – fulfils their mandate and contributes meaningfully to the administration of justice.
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Landslide RED warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions of Ududumbara, Nildadndahinna and Walapane
The landslide early warning center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued RED warnings to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya for the next 24 hours effective from 0900 hrs today [09th January].
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Ududumbara in the Kandy district, and Nildandahinna and Walapane in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Wilgamuwa in the Matale district, and Mathurata and Hanguranketha in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL I YELLOW landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Welimada, Kandaketiya, Badulla, Meegahakiwula, Hali_Ela, Passara and Lunugala in the Badulla district, Minipe in the Kandy district, Ambanganga Korale, Ukuwela, Rattota, Naula and Laggala_Pallegama in the Matale district, and Nuwara Eliya in the Nuwara Eliya district.
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A Policy is being formulated to ensure Child Protection in the use of Technology — Prime Minister
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a policy is currently being formulated to ensure child protection in the use of technology.
The Prime Minister made this statement on Thursday (08) in Kandy while briefing the Most Venerable Mahanayake Theros of the Asgiriya and Malwathu Chapters on the issue that has arisen regarding the Grade 6 English module. Thereafter, printed copies of all modules were presented to the Mahanayake Theros.
Earlier on Thursday (08), the Prime Minister visited the Malwathu Viharaya in Kandy and met the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Nayaka Thero, the Mahanayake of the Malwathu Chapter, where she explained the error that had occurred in the first print run of the English module for Grade 6 .
The Mahanayake Theros emphasized that education is a sensitive subject and that such matters should be handled with greater sensitivity and proper oversight. They further advised that a formal investigation should be conducted and that education reforms should be carried forward in a systematic manner.
Subsequently, the Prime Minister visited the Asgiriya Maha Viharaya and met the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, where she clarified the error related to the English module.
The Mahanayake Thero noted that education reforms are a timely necessity and should be implemented with due oversight and careful review and also pointed out that there are broader issues in Sri Lanka regarding the use of technology, which are evident in the manner in which modern tools such as AI technologies are being used on social media.
Clarifying the issue Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated,
“We have appointed a committee to look into this issue, and based on the recommendations of the National Institute of Education (NIE), steps were taken to remove the relevant lesson. In addition, all printed copies of the relevant module have been stamped, and no module has been distributed to schoolchildren. A formal investigation into this matter has been initiated by the Ministry, and a complaint has also been lodged with the Criminal Investigation Department.
At the same time, we are in the process of formulating a policy on child protection in the use of technology”.
Thereafter, addressing the media and responding to the’ questions raised by journalists, the Prime Minister stated:
“The Opposition is attempting to use this national task for their own political advantage. However, many in society have expressed their views on the issues that have arisen in a positive manner, with the objective of identifying and correcting mistakes. The government has decided to move forward with education reforms by recognizing the error that have occurred and rectifying them. We will take the no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition as an opportunity to further advance dialogue on education reforms”
The occasion was graced by the Most Venerable Anunayaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Narampanawe Ananda Nayaka Thero; Deputy Registrar of the Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Muruddeniye Dhammarakkhita Thero; Deputy Registrar of the Malwathu Chapter, Venerable Mahawela Rathanapala Thero; Members of Parliament Thushari Jayasinghe and Thanura Dissanayake; Mayor of Kandy Chandrasiri Wijenayake; Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa; and Secretary to the Ceylon Teachers’ Union in Central Province D. D. Wimalaweera.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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The deep depression to the South-east of Sri Lanka is likely to intensify in to a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours
A RED warning for a deep depression to the South-east of Sri Lanka has been issued at 01.00 a.m. on 09 January 2026 for the period until 01.00 a.m. 10 January 2026 by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, of the Department of Meteorology.
The deep depression in the Bay of Bengal to the southeast of Sri Lanka (At 01:00 a.m. on Jan 9th, 2026 located about 200 km East of Pottuvil) is very likely to intensify further and move west-northwestwards towards the coast of Sri Lanka between Pottuvil and Trincomalee in the evening today (9th January 2026.) The system is likely to intensify in to a cyclonic storm
during the next 24 hours.
Hence, showery, and windy condition over the island, particularly in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces is expected to enhance.
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