Registrations now open for inaugural National Data Protection Symposium 

BASL President Saliya Pieris, PC

BASL Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya

ICTA General Counsel and Chair - Data Protection Drafting Committee Jayantha Fernando

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will conduct the inaugural Data Protection Law Symposium on 27 January 2022 at the Ballroom of the Galadari Hotel.

With the impending enactment of a new Data Protection Law, and the relevance the same would have not only to the legal sphere but also importantly for the economy as a whole, the BASL decided to have this symposium at a time where there is a lot of discussion on the topic. The Keynote Address will be delivered by His Lordship Justice Arjuna Obeyesekere, Judge of the Supreme Court.

Speaking of the symposium, BASL President Saliya Pieris, PC said: “This Symposium will seek to enhance the knowledge of all those interested in the Data Protection regime. The symposium is timely considering that the Government is in the process of finalising the Data Protection Bill, which will be the result of the efforts of many over several years.”

BASL Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya said: “We decided to have this National Data Protection Symposium at this time as there is much discussion and deliberation on this topic, its relevance and impact to the relevant spheres. We felt that given that this law is now very close to enactment, it would be the ideal time to extensively deliberate and where necessary flag any areas of concern as well. We look forward to a very proactive and engaging Symposium.”

ICTA General Counsel and Chair, Data Protection Drafting Committee Jayantha Fernando said, “The National Data Protection Law Symposium organised by the BASL would be the first major Symposium on the subject, since the Bill was published in the Gazette on 25 November 2021.

He went on to state, “The Data Protection Bill seeks to protect personal data of individuals held by government and private sector entities. This legislation intends to balance the interest of entities, which rely on personal data to provide services, whilst protecting individual rights to ensure transparency and accountability in data processing activities.

“The symposium would cover all key aspects on the subject, including enforcement, international dimensions as well as impact on the private sector. I thank the BASL and especially its Secretary Rajeev Amarasuriya for spearheading this National Symposium,” Fernando added.

The areas that will be covered at the Symposium include in Session 1 an Overview of the Data Protection Bill, including Key Features, Enforcement and Penalties; in Session 2 on Rights, Obligations, Cross Border Data Processing; in Session 3 the Intersect between RTI and Data Protection; in Session 4 on Challenges and Recommendations for an Effective Implementation and Enforcement of Personal Data Protection Law; in Session 5 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, Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Currencies); and Session 6 on the Impact of Data Protection on Cyber Crime and Cyber Security; Session 7 on International Dimensions and Standards Governing Data Protection Law; and Session 8 on International Investment, Digital Economy and Benefits to the country at large.

Apart from Fernando and Amarasuriya, the resource persons include Queen Mary, University of London Visiting Professor Prof. Ulrich Wuermeling; LAWASIA Communication, Data Protection and Technology Law Chairman Attorney-at-Law (AAL) Dr. Sunil Abeyratne; Former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Theagarajah; Dialog Axiata Vice President – Group Legal and Regulatory AAL Trinesh Fernando; AAL Sanduni Wickramasinghe, Lanka Bell Managing Director and FITIS Chairman Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe; Cargills Ceylon Deputy General Manager Yasith Fernando; Aventude CTO and Chairperson Thurupathan Vijayakumar; University of Colombo Dean, Faculty of Law AAL Dr. Sampath Punchihewa; Cargills Bank Assistant General Manager, Card Services Mahesha Amarasuriya; ICTA Chief Digital Economy Officer Anura De Alwis; Dialog Axiata Manager – Group Legal and Regulatory AAL Shenuka Jayalath, AAL Thishya Weragoda, CSE Head of Regulatory Policy and Compliance AAL Lankesha Molligoda and AAL Samantha De Soysa.

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

The Official Newspaper is the Daily FT and the Electronic Media Partner for this Symposium is News First.