Top experts at inaugural National Data Protection law symposium

Prof. Ulrich Wuermeling

Jayantha Fernando, AAL

Rajeev Amarasuriya, AAL

Sanduni Wickremasinghe, AAL

The Inaugural National Data Protection Law Symposium of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, to be held on Thursday, 27 January, will have an eminent list of speakers and panellists from both the legal sphere and industry covering all of the relevant topics and areas of concern when it comes to Data Protection.

The National Symposium will commence with an inauguration where the Keynote Address will be delivered by Supreme Court Judge Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, and thereafter, will move to the sessions.

The first presentation would be by ICTA General Counsel/Data Protection Drafting Committee Chair Jayantha Fernando, AAL, who would provide an overview of the Data Protection Bill, including key features, enforcement, and penalties. Then, Saduni Wickramasinghe, AAL will speak on rights, obligations, cross border data processing. The next presentation will be by Rajeev Amarasuriya, AAL on the Intersect between right to information and data protection.

These three sessions will be followed up by a panel discussion on ‘Challenges and Recommendations for an Effective Implementation and Enforcement of Personal Data Protection Law’, which would additionally have Dialog Axiata PLC Manager – Regulatory – Group Legal and Regulatory Shenuka Jayalath, AAL, who will focus on Implementation and Business, and this session will be moderated by  Samantha De Soysa, AAL.

Post-lunch, LAWASIA Chairman – Communication, Data Protection and Technology Law Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne, AAL will speak on the ‘Impact of Data Protection on Cyber Crime and Cyber Security’. 

Thereafter, an interesting panel discussion on ‘Data Protection by Design or by Regulation and the Future of Innovation, Trust and Competition’ (including impact on capital markets, block-chain, data analytics, AI and virtual currencies) will be held with Dialog Axiata General Counsel/VP – Group Legal and Regulatory Trinesh Fernando, AAL, Aventude CTO/Chairperson Thurupathan Vijayakumar, Cargills Ceylon DGM Yasith Fernando, CSE Head of Regulatory Policy and Compliance Lankeesha Molligoda, AAL, MasterCard Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Sandun Hapugoda, and will be moderated by Sanduni Wickramasinghe, AAL.

Thereafter, Attorney/Queen Mary University of London Visiting Professor Prof. Ulrich Wuermeling will connect virtually and make a presentation on ‘International Dimensions and Standards Governing Data Protection Law.’

The concluding panel discussion will be on ‘International Investment, Digital Economy and Benefits to the Country at large’ with a panel comprising of ICTA General Counsel/Data Protection Drafting Committee Chair Jayantha Fernando, AAL, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce former Chairman Rajendra Theagarajah, Lanka Bell Ltd. MD/FITIS Chairman Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe, Cargills Bank AGM – Card Services Mahesha Amarasuriya, ICTA Chief Digital Economy Officer Anura de Alwis, which will be moderated by Thishya Weragoda, AAL.

For registrations, please contact the BASL Program Office on 076-4408335/2447134.

The Principal Sponsor is Lanka Clear Ltd., while the Official Newspaper is the Daily FT, and the Electronic Media Partner for this symposium is News First.