The MK Nambyar SAARC Law Centre at The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad is organising a three-day event, the MK Nambyar Memorial Lecture Series 2026.
The lecture series, titled “Constitutional Governance in South Asia: Perspectives from Sri Lanka,” will focus on key constitutional questions in the region. It will draw on Sri Lanka’s experience and place it within broader Global South debates on constitutionalism.
The sessions will be conducted online to enable wider participation from students, academics and legal practitioners.
The MK Nambyar SAARC Law Centre at NALSAR University of Law focuses on research and scholarship on Indian and comparative constitutional law and legal issues affecting South Asia. It is chaired by Justice S Ravindra Bhat, former judge of the Supreme Court, and operates under the patronage of Senior Advocate KK Venugopal.
Designed as a long-form academic engagement, the series of lectures aim to facilitate in-depth discussion on complex issues in constitutional law and governance, building on the Centre’s ongoing efforts to foster meaningful dialogue in the field.
Date: March 22, 23 and 24, 2026
Time: Daily from 5pm to 7pm
Speakers include:
Dinesha Samararatne, Professor, Department of Public and International Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Samararatne, Senior Fellow at Melbourne Law School, Editor of the University of Colombo Review
Themes and topics:
What are guarantor institutions, and why do they matter?
The opening session will examine the role of institutions such as human rights commissions in constitutional democracies, with a focus on Sri Lanka’s approach to separation of powers and institutional design.
Guarantor Personnel: Who, why and for what?
The second session will look at the individuals who serve in such institutions, analysing attributes such as independence, integrity, expertise and public trust.
Doing Legal Scholarship from and within the Global South
The concluding session will address methods of legal scholarship in public law, including both doctrinal and socio-legal approaches. It will also discuss the opportunities and challenges of doing such work in the Global South.
Registration Details:
The lecture series is open to students, faculty members and members of the legal community.
Participation is subject to prior registration, and joining details will be shared via email upon confirmation.
[Read Event Brochure]