Forensic pathologists hold sixth session

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: The sixth annual academic session of the College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka was inaugurated at the Lionel Memorial Auditorium of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, No. 06, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 recently. Additional Solicitor General Palitha Fernando PC was the chief guest.

There were four plenary lectures delivered by Dr. Neil Fernando Consultant Psychiatrist on ‘psychosocial determinants of criminal offenders’, Dr. Jean Perera, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo on ‘medical evidence in sexual offences; past, present and future’, Ayesha Jinasena, Senior State Counsel on ‘role of a defence medical expert in the eyes of a prosecutor’ and B. K. Gamini Nawarathne, deputy Inspector General of Police on ‘promoting team building between SOCO and JMO’.

In addition, there were 10 free paper presentations and a poster presentation in the field of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Pathology. Under the guidance of Dr. L. B. L. de Alwis, the President of the College, the Council has undertaken several projects to uplift the standards of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Pathology in the country, many of which are nearing completion.

Among them are the protocol for examination of drivers for alcoholic intoxication, protocol for examination of victims of sexual abuse and the medico-legal hand book for Government Medical Officers.