The University of Kelaniya team secured the championship at the Grand Finale of the Fourth Inter-Medical Faculty Forensic Medicine Debating Tournament 2024-2025, which was organized by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, together with the Aura-media Club of the Faculty of Medicine. The event was held successfully on March 29, 2025, at the Main Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya.

This initiative was aimed at improving the students’ ability to critically evaluate and to propose and defend controversial areas in forensic medicine based on evidence, and at evaluating the controversies associated with psycho-social management and reportage of victims of intimate partner violence

The organization of this debate started in November 2024, and with the invitation of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, teams from 11 medical faculties registered to compete for the trophy of the University Forensic Specialists Association.

Preliminary rounds were held online on February 19, 2025, using the Zoom platform. Five teams were selected to participate in the quarter-final rounds through this debate. The quarter-final rounds were again held online on February 27, 2025, using the Zoom platform. The teams that participated in the quarter-final rounds were from the University of Peradeniya, University of Kelaniya, Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, and University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

Following the quarter-final rounds, three teams were selected to participate in the semifinal rounds, which from the University of Kelaniya, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Sri Lanka. The debates of the quarter-final rounds were held on March 17, 18, and 20, 2025, as online events using the Zoom platform, and every team had a chance to compete with the other two teams.

The University of Kelaniya beat the other two teams in the debates they participated in, and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Sri Lanka obtained higher total marks than the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. As a result, the University of Kelaniya and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Sri Lanka were selected to compete with each other at the grand finale. The topic for the grand finale was “This house proposes that doctors should mandatorily report all cases of intimate partner violence to the police.”

The University of Kelaniya was the proposing team consisting of members, D. A. N. Kumarage, A. S. Abeywardena, D. S. S. Meshel, and J. D. Karunaratne, and the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Sri Lanka was the opposing team consisting of members, V. D. R. Matharaarachchi, G. D. R. Sirithunga, M. G. N. Nuwanidu, and W. W. C. E. Senarath.

It was an extremely interesting debate, with both teams bringing scientific facts to prove their stance. It appeared that both teams had thoroughly researched the topic. The University of Kelaniya secured the Inter-Medical Faculty Forensic Medicine Debate 2024-2025 championship after a close fight with a decision of three to two and a lead of 10 marks. The Best Speaker Award winner was Mr. D. A. N. Kumarage, the captain of the University of Kelaniya team.

The winning team was awarded the trophy of the University Forensic Specialists’ Association, and each team member was awarded a gold medal and a certificate. The members of the first runner-up team were awarded silver medals, and the members of the second runner-up team were awarded bronze medals.

The event was graced by Prof. Madawa Chandrathilake, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya; Prof. Aindralal Balasuriya, Dean of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Sri Lanka; Snr. Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe of the University of Kelaniya; Dr. Tharindu Herath of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Wayamba, who was an adjudicator at the preliminary and quarterfinal rounds; and many other Academics from both faculties, team members of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka as well as the students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. This remarkable effort was carried out under the leadership of Prof. Indira Kitulwatte, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee.