Registrations now open for the National Securities and Exchange Commission Law Symposium

BASL President PC Saliya Pieris

BASL Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya

Supreme Court Judge Justice Janak De Silva

SEC Chairman PC. Viraj Dayaratne

CSE Director General Rajeeva Bandaranaike

CSE Chief Regulatory Officer Renuke Wijayawardhane

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will conduct the National Securities and Exchange Commission Law Symposium on 16 March 2022 at the Ballroom of the Galadari Hotel.

With the enactment of the new Securities and Exchange Commission Law in September last year, a revamped regulatory framework has been introduced to the Capital Market on par with many foreign jurisdictions and given the new legal regime, the BASL decided to hold a Symposium with experts from the legal profession and industry to deliberate and discuss on this new law and its impact.

Speaking of the Symposium, BASL President PC Saliya Pieris said: “The BASL symposium on the Securities Exchange Commission Law seeks to highlight the salient features of the new SEC Act and its impact on the capital market, market institutions and market intermediaries.

Participants at this symposium will benefit from the sharing of knowledge and experiences of the experts in this sphere. It is our hope that this symposium will help create among lawyers and non-lawyers alike, a greater awareness and interest in this new law which is no doubt an important piece of legislation which will impact on business and the economy in the years to come.”

BASL Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya said: “We decided to hold this Symposium for several reasons, the new SEC Law brings a new legal regime with several tools of enforcement and regulation and this becomes relevant to the industry and the legal profession alike. The Capital Market is an important constituent of the economy and its better regulation will ensure better investor confidence which will consequentially benefit not only the immediate stakeholders of the market but the country as a whole. 

On a personal note, having been a Member of the Commission when many of these changes were discussed and conceptualised, I am happy that through the BASL we are supporting the due and proper implementation of this law which would be beneficial to all.”

The areas that will be covered at the Symposium include an overview of the new SEC Act; how the new Act facilitates the development of the new capital market; market institutions and market intermediaries; key changes applicable to market institutions and market intermediaries; impact of the new SEC Act on listed companies and issuers; panel discussion: Understanding the new regime on market offences and its practical impact.

The keynote address will be delivered by Supreme Court Judge Justice Janak De Silva on “Evolution of Stock Exchanges and Capital Markets : Legal Challenges” and the resource persons include President’s Counsel Dr. Harsha Cabral, President’s Counsel Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel and Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Chairman Viraj Dayaratne, Heritage Partners Senior Partner AAL Dr. Arittha Wikramanayake, Nithya Partners Senior Partner AAL Naomal Goonewardene, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Commissioner Manil Jayasinghe, Colombo Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Colombo Stock Exchange Chief Regulatory Officer AAL Renuke Wijayawardhane, Union Bank Director and Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka former Commissioner AAL Dilshani Wijewardena, Colombo Stock Exchange Dispute Resolution Committee Director and former Chairman AAL Hiran De Alwis, F.J.&G. De Saram Precedent Partner AAL Ayomi Aluwihare, John Keells Holdings PLC President – Head of Legal and Secretarial AAL Nadija Tambiah, LOLC Holdings PLCS Chief Operating Officer AAL Kithsiri Gunawardena, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Former Commissioner AAL Rajeev Amarasuriya, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Director – Legal AAL Ayanthi Abewickrema, Colombo Stock Exchange Director AAL Suren De Silva, Capital Alliance Holdings Managing Director Ajith Fernando, Colombo Stock Exchange Vice President Regulatory Policy and Compliance AAL Lankesha Molligoda, Heritage Partners Counsel and former Senior State Counsel AAL Suren Gnanaraj, and D.L.&F. De Saram Partner AAL Aloka Nandasena, 

For registrations please contact the BASL program office on 076-4408335 / 2447134.

The principal sponsor is the Colombo Stock Exchange and the official newspaper is the Daily FT and the electronic media partner for this Symposium is News First.