BASL to host inaugural Board Leader Ready Symposium on corporate governance and boardroom leadership

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will host its inaugural Board Leader Ready Symposium on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, bringing together distinguished legal professionals, corporate leaders, financial experts and governance specialists for a full-day program dedicated to preparing current and aspiring directors for the responsibilities of board leadership.

The initiative recognises the growing importance of effective corporate governance and the need for directors to possess not only professional expertise but also a sound understanding of their legal obligations, financial oversight responsibilities and strategic role in guiding organisations towards sustainable growth.

The keynote address will be delivered by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) Chairman Senior Professor D.B.P.H. Dissabandara. The symposium will feature four thematic sessions led by distinguished professionals from the legal, regulatory, financial and corporate sectors.

The session on corporate governance titled ‘The Boardroom: Where Governance Begins’ will feature SEC Chairman Senior Professor D.B.P.H. Dissabandara; Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Independent Director and Member of the Governing Board Nihal Fonseka; BASL President, CBSL former Governing Board Member and SEC former Commissioner Rajeev Amarasuriya; First Capital Holdings PLC Chairman Rajendra Theagarajah; and Independent Director Renuke Wijayawardhane.

The session on directors’ Duties and Liabilities titled ‘Accountable at the Top: Duties, Liabilities and What Every Director Must Know’, will feature former Justice of the Supreme Court and Seylan Bank Chairman Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare, PC; President’s Counsel Dr. Harsha Cabral; Precedent Partner of Heritage Partners and SEC former Director General Dr. Arittha Wikramanayake; Nithya Partners Precedent Partner Naomal Goonewardena; and Sudath Perera Associates Partner Nipuni Samarasekara.

The session on financially-savvy Board members titled ‘Financial Acumen for Board Directors: What Every Director Needs to Know’, will feature Union Bank Chairman and Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) Chairman Dinesh Weerakkody; Board Director and former Partner of EY, and CA Sri Lanka Past President Arjuna Herath; CA Sri Lanka President Tishan Subasinghe; David Pieris Holdings Ltd.., Group Finance Director and CA Sri Lanka Immediate Past President Heshana Kuruppu; Brandix Group General Manager – Strategy and Transformation and Director Mariam Omar; and Brandix Group Head of Group Legal and Company Secretarial and Inaugural Board Leader Ready Symposium Co-Chairperson Yanina Weerasinghe.

The session on effective board committee governance titled ‘Beyond Compliance: The Director’s Role in Effective Board Committees’ will feature Boardroom Mastery (AICD Australia) and Guru Ltd., Director of Governance Dr. Suresh Marcandan; Colombo Stock Exchange Director Suren de Silva; B.R. De Silva and Co. Partner and CA Sri Lanka Past President Sanjaya Bandara; Non-Executive Independent Director Coralie Pietersz; and Maharaja Foods PLC Chairman Imran Furkan.

BASL President Rajeev Amarasuriya said, the Inaugural Board Leader Ready Symposium presents an exciting opportunity for professionals to look beyond traditional career paths and explore the many possibilities that boardroom leadership offers. “For those in the legal profession, the opportunities extend beyond courtroom practice, with their knowledge and skills providing a valuable foundation for contributing to corporate strategy, governance and decision-making. The symposium is also an opportunity for the younger generation of professionals to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to aspire to board positions in the future. Equally, we hope to encourage more women to explore boardroom leadership and take their place in shaping the future of businesses in Sri Lanka. By opening up these possibilities and strengthening awareness of what it takes to be Board-ready, we hope to nurture a new generation of capable, diverse and responsible corporate leaders.”

BASL Board Leader Ready Symposium Chairperson Renuke Wijayawardhane said: “I believe that investing in boardroom education and professional development is an important step towards strengthening corporate governance and building more resilient, responsible and sustainable organizations. Our aspiration is to create greater awareness of what it truly means to be Board-ready, while encouraging both current and future directors to approach their responsibilities with the requisite knowledge, integrity, independence and commitment. We hope this symposium will serve as a valuable platform for learning, knowledge-sharing and professional development, ultimately contributing to a stronger pool of corporate leaders who are well equipped to guide organizations towards long-term success.”

The symposium is intended for existing board members, senior corporate executives and professionals aspiring to board positions. While executive experience provides a valuable foundation, effective board service demands a broader strategic perspective, the ability to question constructively and the independence of judgement necessary to oversee management and protect stakeholder interests. These competencies are particularly important in the context of listed companies, where governance standards, transparency and regulatory responsibilities are especially significant.

Through this inaugural initiative, the BASL seeks to encourage greater awareness of what it means to be Board-ready and to support the development of capable, ethical and accountable corporate leadership.

The symposium will be held from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Courtyard by Marriott Colombo. The registration fee is Rs. 17,500. For further details and registration, please contact the BASL Program Office on 077 588 8781 or email [email protected]

The Daily FT is the official newspaper partner of the symposium, with Derana serving as the electronic media partner. BoardPAC and Brandix are the symposium’s strategic partners.