A Landmark Legal Gathering in the North
The Faculty of Law, University of Jaffna, proudly hosted the Jaffna International Law Conference 2025, bringing together esteemed legal minds, academics, policymakers, and students from across Sri Lanka and beyond. Under the resonant theme “Law: Gentle Civilizer of Change – Engage, Transform, Sustain”, the conference served as a dynamic platform for thought leadership, dialogue, and reflection on the evolving role of law in contemporary society.
Day One – 25th January 2025
Spotlight: Governance & Constitutional Reform
The first day commenced with a distinguished opening ceremony featuring:
Chief Guest: His Lordship Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Guest of Honour: Ms. Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, Commissioner, Right to Information Commission
Keynote Addresses:
Prof. Dian Shah (National University of Singapore) – on Governance Transformation
Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne – on Digital Transformation
Featured Panel:
“A Peoples’ Constitution? The Way Forward”
Moderated by Ms. Bhavani Fonseka, the panel included distinguished voices such as:
Prof. V.T. Thamilmaran
Dr. Kalana Senaratne
Dr. Jayantha de Almeida Guneratne, PC
The day fostered meaningful discourse on constitutionalism, legal education, and citizen empowerment. Emerging scholars and students also presented innovative research, reflecting fresh legal perspectives on critical national issues.
Day Two – 26th January 2025
Spotlight: Transformation, Rights & Technology
Day two continued the spirit of intellectual exchange with a new lineup of keynote speakers and in-depth panels:
Chief Guest: His Lordship Justice Janak de Silva, Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Guest of Honour: Mrs. Chamantha Unamboowe, PC, Chairperson, Legal Standing Committee, UGC
Keynote Addresses:
Prof. N. Selvakkumaran – on Pedagogical Transformation
Ms. Shyamala Gomez – on Cultural Transformation
Featured Panel:
“Transformations: Challenges and Prospects”
Moderated by Dr. Mahendran Thiruvarangan, this session tackled the multifaceted nature of legal and social transformation in Sri Lanka and the region.
Throughout the day, sessions explored critical themes such as:
Economic development and legal frameworks
Environmental justice and climate change
Human rights and democratic freedoms
Family law, gender, and social equity
Artificial intelligence and law
The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of legal education’s pivotal role in shaping equitable and sustainable societies.
A Note of Gratitude
The Organizing Committee extends heartfelt thanks to all guests, speakers, participants, and volunteers who made JILC ’25 a resounding success. As we reflect on the insights shared over these two impactful days, we look forward to continuing this important conversation and fostering transformative change through the law.
