Legal Aid Camp 2015: Service to the community and learning experience for the future of legal profes

Wednesday, 28 January 2015 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Rtr. Binendri Perera Legal Aid Camp, organised by the Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Law of the University of Colombo for the second consecutive year, took place at the Hikkaduwa Urban Council Hall on 24 January 2015.

The project, which seeks to serve the community, was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Colombo East. Lawyers Sasanka Jayasuriya, Amila Dharmasooriya, Nuwan Somaratna and Anusha Madduwage contributed their expert knowledge in the criminal and civil fields of law to make this event a success. “As law students we are well aware of the importance of knowing the law and also what obstacles ordinary citizens face due to a lack of savvy in law. And as rotaractors we strive to serve the community and make our society a better place. These factors inspired us to organise the Legal Aid Camp for 2015,” stated Rtr. Nethmini Medawala, President of the Rotaract Club of Faculty of Law for 2014/15. The Legal Aid Camp 2015 marked an important milestone for the rotaractors of the club, as well as providing them with a valuable exposure to the practical aspect of how legal profession functions in day-to-day life. Eighty-five citizens arrived at the camp seeking advice and the feedback of the majority suggests that they were satisfied with the service they received. While thanking the Rotaractors for their effort, a lot of the participants emphasised the usefulness of the camp to laymen, who face a myriad of difficulties when they attempt to access the law. (The writer is an Editor of the Rotaract Club, Faculty of Law, UOC)