The Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology was established in 1951, as a separate department in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. Prior to this, services for academic purposes were rendered through lectures conducted by the Judicial Medical Officer.

The services of the department are extended to professionals in various fields as well as to the general public. The department staff is dedicated to training undergraduates and postgraduates of Medicine and professionals in the legal fraternity and law enforcement authorities and in fields related to forensic medicine. As the department believes that research holds a key for the betterment of the services it provides, it is involved in many research projects as well. The department also provides the services of Forensic Pathology (Postmortem examination) and Clinical Forensic Medicine services to several police areas around the city of Colombo.

The staff of the department is dedicated in training under-graduates and post-graduates of Medicine and professionals  in  fields  related  to forensic  medicine.  it is strongly believed that research holds a key for the betterment of  the services provided, hence the academicians are involved in many researches as  well.