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| A Brief History of the Department |
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| From the inception of the Colombo Medical School in 1870 up to 1951, lectures in Forensic |
| Medicine were conducted by the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo. |
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| The Department of Forensic Medicine functioned as a sub-unit of the office of the Judicial Medical |
| Officer, Colombo. Dr. N. Sinnadurai, Dr. P. S. Gunawardana and Dr. G. S. W. de Saram performed the |
| duties of both Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo and as Lecturers of Forensic Medicine. |
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| Professor G. S. W. de Seram (1951-1958) Farewell to Professor G. S. W. de Seram (1951-1958) |
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| In 1951, a separate Department of Forensic Medicine was created in the Faculty of Medicine, |
| University of Ceylon. Dr. G. S. W. de Saram, MRCS (Eng.), LRCP (London), LMS (Ceylon), OBE, the |
| judicial medical Officer of Colombo, was appointed the first Professor of Forensic Medicine. |
| Professor de Saram retired in 1958 and Dr. H. V. J. Fernando succeeded him as Professor in |
| 1959. |
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| Professor H. V. J. Fernando (1951-1985) Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda (1960-1997) |
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| Professor Nandadasa Kodagoda was elected to the chair of the department of Forensic Medicine |
| in the year of 1985. Professor Ravindra Fernando succeeded him in 1996. |
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| Considering the work performed and contributions made in the field of Toxicology, the name |
| of the department was changed to “ Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology ” in the |
| year 1990. |
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| The department has a major role to play in education and research in Forensic Medicine and |
| Toxicology and in providing professional and expert advice on medico - legal and ethical issues |
| to doctors and the courts. The advances in medical science and expected changes in legislation |
| offer a challenge to the future activities of the department. |
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| Currently the Department is involved in training courses for under - graduates, post - graduates and |
| professionals in fields related to Forensic Medicine and carrying out research. |
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