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Medico-Legal society, a multi-disciplinary body - CJ

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka is a multi disciplinary professional body which brings under one canopy the professional activities in criminal investigations, Police investigators, lawyers, in particularly criminal lawyers, Coroners and Judges. The society is the oldest and the only multi disciplinary professional body of this kind said Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva,.

Chief Justice Silva PC, who was elected as the President of the Society at the Annual General Meeting held at the Galle Face hotel recently, delivering the key-note address at the Medico-Legal Society said that historically, the society have come together because our respective professional activities converge at the point of criminal investigations especially in respect of offences involving physical violance and the process of the administration of justice in this regard.

"I count it an honour and privilege to make this address to the Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka as its President at the Annual General Meeting 2002," the Chief Justice said.

The report of joint secretaries states lucidly the activities of the society during the period March 2, 2001 to July 2002. It is unnecessary to elaborate on the account which sets out collective endeavours during this period, Suffice it to say that whilst the society went through a regular calendar by successfully arranging the W.D.L. Fernando Oration, the Medico-Legal Society Oration and the Annual Scientific Sessions, in addition the society were able to focus efforts in engaging in a collective study and the preparation of a comprehensive report with specific guidelines with regards to crime scene investigation co-ordination of the respective professional inputs to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the investigations; the procedure at inquest; arriving at a uniformity as to the documentation leading to the registration of deaths, elimination of delays in adducing evidence at criminal trials and the like, the Chief Justice added.

'We embarked on this task on the basis of a proposal made by me at the last Annual General meeting. I think it appropriate to dwell more on this aspect in my address,' the new President of the Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka said.

'Our Association is a useful plank to interact socially in the backdrop of this convergence in our professional lives. In more peaceful and leisurely times we may restrict our interaction to having drink or a meal together and a friendly chat to build up mutual confidence. But today, the crisis in the larger society we live in, thrust us to a more earnest and serious course of action.

Our criminal law being the bulwark of our legal system is intended primarily to assure to everyone irrespective of their status or stature, whether they are weak or strong, that they could live and move about freely without any threat, danger or harm to their physical person and that their property is safe at all times.

It is a matter of common concern to everyone living in this country that there is a severe erosion of this essential freedom of security of person and property,' the Chief Justice said.

Chief Justice Sarath Silva quoting an example of a ruthless efficient system of criminal investigation said that the peaceful society moves on only in the background of ruthlessly efficient system of criminal investigations.

Justice Shirani Tilakewardena and Dr. Jean Perera were elected as the joint Vice Presidents. Deputy Solicitor General Palitha Fernando and Dr. Ananda Samarasekera were elected as the joint Secretaries. DIG Chandra Fernando was elected as the Assistant Secretary and the Treasurer elected was City Coroner Edward Ahangama.

Prof. M. S. L. Salgado and Mr. S. B. W. de Silvas Editors of Transactions.

Members of the Council elected were former Justice Douglas Wijeratne, President's Counsel Daya Perera, Prof. Ravindra Fernando, President's Counsel M. L. M. Ameen, Attorney-at-Law, P. Hema Manatunga, Dr. L. Weerasena, Dr. A. R. L. Wijesekera, Dr. Ananda Samarasekera, Dr. R. A. D. Kumarawickrama and former Senior DIG Mitra Ariyasinghe.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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