Apology by Law: A Sociolegal Perspective on Public Apology in Sri Lanka
A public apology is a social ritual that includes individuals and institutions involved in a wrongdoing and aims to restore the fractured relationship between them in a symbolic exchange. It is much more than mere acknowledgement of fault or expression of regret, as it involves a public declaration of guilt and remorse in an attempt to seek forgiveness, demonstrate accountability, and reestablish trust within a particular social and cultural context. When a public apology is prescribed by law, often referred to as apology law, it becomes entwined in a complex social field, reflecting the normative and political dimensions that define the mutually constitutive nature of the relationship between society and law. From a sociolegal perspective, therefore, public apology by law lies at the intersection of law, culture, and politics, in a dynamic social process. It is in this context that this study focuses on apology law relating to the pharmaceutical industry in Sri Lanka as a window through which to explore the idea of public apology. Specifically, this study examines the perceptions of pharmacists as key stakeholders who are required to make public apologies through paid advertisements in newspapers for certain violations of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act No.5 of 2015. Using a questionnaire survey among a purposively selected sample of pharmacists, the study explores their knowledge and perspectives on the regulations as well as their attitudes towards the public apology as a form of promoting authenticity, transparency, accountability, and rebuilding trust. While the responses indicate the acceptance of public apology as an effective punishment, its restorative and rehabilitative value is seen as embedded in the larger social and political context that underscores the role of public apology in society.