Speaking as the Chief Guest at the 15th Colombo Retina Meeting 2026 held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo, Supreme Court Judge Dr. Sobhitha Rajakaruna emphasized that both the legal and medical professions share a common responsibility in making decisions that profoundly impact human lives.
Addressing the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association of Vitreo-Retina Specialists of Sri Lanka, he highlighted the importance of balancing professional expertise, intuition, ethics, and “good conscience” in decision-making, while praising retinal specialists for their contribution to preserving sight, dignity, and hope.
The Full Speech made by His Lordship Justice Dr. Sobhitha Rajakaruna, Judge of the Supreme Court, who was the Chief Guest at the 15thColombo Retina Meeting, 2026 – the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association of Vitreo-Retina Specialists of Sri Lanka.
4th June 2026 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotle, Colombo.
Distinguished President and Office Bearers of the Association of Vitreo-Retina Specialists of Sri Lanka,Guest of Honour Professor Andrzej Grzybowski,Respected members of the faculty, Distinguished international and local guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
At the outset, permit me to express my sincere gratitude for the generous introduction accorded to me. I am deeply humbled by your kindness and hospitality.
It is indeed a privilege and an honour to be invited as the Chief Guest at the 15th Colombo Retina Meeting 2026, the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association of Vitreo-Retina Specialists of Sri Lanka. I consider this invitation particularly meaningful because it comes from a body of eminent professionals who dedicate their lives to preserving and restoring one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon humanity, sight itself.
The theme selected for this year’s meeting — “Innovate and Educate to Advance Sri Lankan Retina Care” — is both timely and profound. Innovation without education is incomplete, and education without innovation risks stagnation. Together, they become the driving force of progress in every discipline, whether in medicine, science, law, or governance.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Though I stand before you as a Judge and not as a medical professional, I have often reflected upon the striking similarities between the judicial profession and the medical profession, particularly in the realm of decision-making. If I may strike a personal note – my late father was also a great Medical Practitioner.
As Judges, we write judgments to uphold fairness, justice, and the Rule of Law. You, as Specialist Doctors and surgeons, diagnose illnesses, perform procedures, and treat patients to restore health and dignity to human life. In essence, both professions are entrusted with decisions that profoundly affect human lives.
A judicial decision may determine the liberty, property, reputation, or rights of an individual. Likewise, a medical decision may determine the quality of life, vision, survival, or well-being of a patient.
Therefore, the quality, accuracy, and fairness of those decisions become of paramount importance.
Indeed, I venture to say that Specialist Doctors, through their professional decisions, also contribute to the upholding of the Rule of Law. For the Rule of Law is not confined merely to courts and constitutions. It is ultimately about fairness, responsibility, ethics, and the protection of human dignity. Every carefully considered medical decision that is made honestly, ethically, and conscientiously strengthens the fabric of a just society.
Yet, in both our professions, there exists a common and unavoidable challenge — ‘divergence of opinion’.
In the legal sphere, different Judges may arrive at different conclusions on the same cause of action. Similarly, in medicine, Specialist Doctors may sometimes differ in diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment. Such divergence may create uncertainty and dilemmas, and unfortunately, it is often the ordinary litigants or patient who ultimately suffers the consequences.
One of the contributing factors for divergent judicial opinions is what scholars describe as the ‘judicial hunch’ or ‘judicial intuition’.
Judicial hunch reflects numerous human factors: what the judge had for breakfast, a Judge’s upbringing, education, language ability, experience, knowledge, intelligence, and even subconscious influences shaped by life itself.
An illuminating discussion on this subject appears in the article titled “Blinking on the Bench: How Judges Decide Cases” by Chris Guthrie, Jeffrey J. Rachlinski, and Andrew J. Wistrich. The authors question whether Judges decide cases merely through mechanical application of legal principles, as formalists suggest, or whether they rely significantly on instinctive impressions and intuition, as legal realists argue.
They observe that Judges, like all human beings, possess two cognitive systems — the intuitive and the deliberative. Although Judges strive to rely upon facts, evidence, and legal principles while suppressing personal bias and emotion, intuition inevitably plays a role in human decision-making.
The authors further note that intuitive judgments may sometimes be remarkably accurate, but they may also lead to errors and injustice if not tempered by careful deliberation.
Interestingly, they draw a parallel with medicine by referring to Dr. Jerome Groopman’s work, “How Doctors Think.” Dr. Groopman cautions that although first impressions and intuition can occasionally be correct, excessive reliance on intuition carries dangers. He argues that sound medical judgment requires a combination of initial perception and deliberate analytical reasoning.
The same principle applies to the law.
Thus, it appears that both Judges and Specialist Doctors stand upon common intellectual ground. In both professions, decision-making involves not merely technical knowledge, but also human cognition, intuition, analysis, experience, ethics, and conscience.
Modern neuroscience, too, has increasingly demonstrated how the human brain contributes to intuitive responses and subconscious reasoning. Whether in a courtroom or an operating theatre, the human mind continuously balances instinct with rational deliberation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In light of all this, one fundamental principle emerges with great clarity.
Whether one is a Judge interpreting the law or a Specialist Doctor treating a patient, the ultimate guide in decision-making must be nothing but ‘good conscience’.
To my mind, good conscience is the true foundation stone of the Rule of Law. It is equally the foundation stone of every accurate and fair medical decision.
Good conscience demands honesty.
Good conscience demands humility.
Good conscience demands intellectual integrity.
And above all, good conscience demands that we place human welfare above personal pride, convenience, or prejudice.
You simply cannot hide anything from your conscience, no matter how secretly you act. Your conscience bears witness to every word you utter, every step you take, and every action you perform, whether in the Judge’s chambers or in the operating theatre. And interestingly, recent research in Artificial Intelligence has revealed something strikingly similar; today, no matter how many times you delete something from a device, technology does not forget. It remembers what you tried to erase.
Technology may advance. Artificial intelligence may assist. Medical science and legal systems may evolve. Yet, no machine can replace the moral conscience of a human being committed to fairness and compassion.
As you gather here over the next few days to exchange knowledge, discuss innovations, and advance retinal care in Sri Lanka, I sincerely hope that your deliberations will continue to strengthen not only scientific excellence but also the humane and ethical foundations of your noble profession.
The gift of sight that you preserve and restore is not merely a biological function. It is the restoration of hope, independence, dignity, and human possibility.
For that, society owes all of you immense gratitude.
In conclusion, I once again congratulate the Association of Vitreo-Retina Specialists of Sri Lanka for organising this important scientific meeting and for its invaluable contribution to the advancement of ophthalmic care in our country.
I thank all the distinguished international and local faculty members for sharing their expertise and enriching the Sri Lankan ophthalmic community.
Finally, I extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. P. Sriharanathan, the President and all those responsible for inviting me & my wife and extending such warm hospitality. I must also place on record my special appreciation to the Vice President of the Association, Dr. Ayasmantha Peiris, a colleague from my alma mater, who coordinated with me.
I wish the 15th Colombo Retina Meeting 2026 every success.
Thank you.
