Saturday Nov 30, 2024
Saturday Nov 30, 2024
Thursday, 9 August 2012 01:26 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Medico-Legal Society of Sri Lanka, a syndicate consist of professionals from medicine, science and law and law enforcement field celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year and its annual Medico-Legal Society Oration titled ‘Applying multidisciplinary understandings in forensic responses to sexual assault’ will be delivered by Dr. Rita Shackel, Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney, Australia on Saturday 11 August at 5.00 p.m. at the Auditorium of the Police Criminal Records Division, Torrington Square, Colombo 7 .
Dr. Shackel holds qualifications in law, science, psychology and education and is a member of the Institute of Criminology. She has experience as a lawyer and academic in a wide field including the State (NSW) Cabinet Office, Office of Youth Affairs, Australian, Law Reform Commission and the University of Western Sydney. She has specialist research interest in Child sexual abuse. Her Ph.D from the University of Sydney is on use of expert evidence in child sexual assault cases.
The Medico-Legal Society of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was inaugurated on 9 December 1937 due to the interest and efforts of the Chief Justice Sir Sydney Abrahams. The objective of the society was to promote the recognition of medicine and other sciences in the administration of justice and the promotion of Medico-Legal knowledge.
The society over the years has been involved in many activities in improving medico-legal services in the country mainly through improving the knowledge of the professionals by a way of giving an opportunity to update their knowledge in par with other countries. Out of many activities carried out over the year the following can be mentioned as few.
The society was responsible for repealing section 311 of the Penal Code and substituting the current section of ‘Grievous Hurt’ in the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 1995.The Society has worked with a group of highly qualified and dedicated professional and selected members of the Police Force to implement many facilities like DNA testing for rape of girls under 14, provision of 24 hour Government analyst report in cases before the Supreme Court etc. The society works on the premise that effective implementation of the Law can be enhanced though independent forensic sciences and multidisciplinary investigations, a concept that has been promoted for many years through sensitisation and awareness to the stakeholders involved in the Administration of Justice.
The society has over the past years, organised programs trying to focus the attention of the authorities by conducting workshops and scientific sessions to update the police, magistrates, forensic doctors, and officers in the Ministry of Women’s affairs. These have been spearheaded by the presidents and officials of the society.
