Sri Lanka legal summit on governance, regulation and investment on 4-5 March

Tuesday, 24 February 2015 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

This year’s National Law Conference of the Bar Association under the theme ‘Sri Lanka Legal Summit 2015 – Governance, Regulation and Investment – The Way Forward’ will take place on 4 and 5 March at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo, commencing with a formal inauguration and cocktails on 4 March followed by the technical sessions on 5 March. Commonwealth Secretariat Former Director Economic Affairs Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy will deliver the keynote address at the inauguration, which is due to be graced by the Chief Justice of Sri Lanka and other dignitaries. The technical sessions of the summit will focus on three main segments, governance reforms, investment and regulation.

“Today we live in changing times and priorities appear to have shifted. It is important therefore that in this Information Age when we have gone beyond traditional boundaries, the legal systems must also evolve and integrate into and facilitate the growth of commerce and industry thereby providing the necessary impetus to the development of a country and its people, within the framework of the Rule of Law whilst facilitating social justice,” said Bar Association President Upul Jayasuriya. It was with this in mind that the BASL twined together the important areas of governance reforms, regulation and investment as the theme. Sri Lanka Legal Summit 2015 Chairman Rajeev Amarasuriya said, “This legal summit will bring together a group of eminent and diverse personalities from the Legal Profession, the State Sector and the Private Sector, and facilitate a knowledge forum and discussion enabling important stakeholders to share and exchange their views, opinions and plans for future Sri Lanka.”

He further disclosed that in the Investment Session, Deputy Minister of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion Eran Wickramaratne is scheduled to make an important presentation in the area of Sri Lanka’s opportunities in the changing investment landscape, whilst business leader Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray will speak on the opportunities and challenges faced by investors. It was also revealed that both Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Thilak Karunaratne are lined up to speak on the future plans of their respective institutions, whilst Deputy Minister for Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth and Cultural Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva will speak on the role which is expected by these Regulators. President’s Counsel Dr. Jaympathy Wickramaratne is scheduled to make the main presentation on Governance Reforms and the Session Panel will include BASL President Elect Geoffrey Alagaratnam, P.C., Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Former Chairman Chandra Jayaratne and University of Colombo Faculty of Law Former Dean N. Selvakumaran. The other eminent group of panellists include Sankarshana A. Parathalingam, P.C. as Chair of the Session on Regulation with National Development Bank Chief Executive Officer/Director Rajendra Thiyagarajha and Colombo Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranayke as panellists, whilst K. Kanaag Isvaran, P.C. will Chair the Session on Investment with Commissioner General of Inland Revenue Wasanthi Manchanayake, Controller of Exchange D.M. Rupasinghe, Director General of Customs Jagath P. Wijeweera and Investment and Promotion, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Executive Director Renuka M. Weerakone as the panellists. The other members of the Summit Committee include Attorneys-at-Law Kushlan Seneviratne, Ruwandhi Thanthrige, Himali Urugodawatte, Dinesha De Silva, Samantha De Soysa and Ruvinda Welikala. The Principal Sponsors of the Summit are Dialog Axiata PLC, the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the Bank of Ceylon and the Print Media Partner is Daily FT.