Access to legal education saves us from humiliation and social dead-ends

Kapila Somarathna Panadura group correspondent

PANADURA: Legal education should be included in the syllabuses of the national curriculum,said Ajith Perera, civil and criminal lawyer of the Panadura Bar.

"This will ensure our students could get a basic awareness of the law at school, and it would facilitate an access to justice from their young age,"he said. He was addressing the awards distributing ceremony of the debating contest organised by the Panadura Bar Association celebrating the National Law Week.All public schools in Panadura participated. in the event.

"When people experience injustice, humiliation and hardships in society, they consult lawyers to get redress form the courts. Most of them are not aware of the legal status and they get embarrassed. If they are aware of the real situation, they will be at ease in such circumstances.

Further, such knowledge in legal status may help them to get away from crimes and not to encourage others to commit any criminal activities," said Perera. He paid tribute to the Panadura Provincial High Court Judge for giving them permission to conduct the debates and oratory contest in the court complex.

Panadura Provincial High Court Judge, Malani Gunarathna, judged the final debate between Panadura Balika Maha Vidyalaya and Panadura Royal College. She said student speakers were very talented and they have acquired a sufficient knowledge.

They went smoothly with the debate as lawyers defending criminal cases in a court of law in the presence of the Panel of judges. She also thanked the Panadura Bar Association who organised the debating contest.

The proposed topic for the final debate was "Sri Lankan women should not be employed as house maid in foreign countries." Panadura Provincial High Court Judge Malani Gunarathna chaired the panel of judges comprising attorneys at law Sarath Haputhanthri, Ajith Perera and Sheveen Gunarathna.

Panadura Bar Association President Kalyani Karunathilaka and Secretary Sunethra Fernando were present at the award distribution ceremony at the Panadura Courts Complex. Attorney at law Harsha Wimaladharma delivered the vote of thanks. Attorney at law Ranjith Rodrigo conducted the final debate, and Panadura Balika Maha Vidyalaya came first at the final round while Panadura Royal College was the first runner up.