The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) is gearing to build capacity in young corporate lawyers covering certain thrust areas in a bid to meet the challenges in this post conflict era, according to top officials.
“There’re many business opportunities as well as many foreign and local investments that are taking place. We’re trying to prepare and build capacity in young corporate lawyers to meet the demands in certain business areas,” Shibly Aziz, President BASL told the Business Times. He said the BASL will hold interactive workshops in about two weeks’ time in selective areas such as shipping and aviation, insurance, telecommunications, power generation, banking, etc.
“We plan to create up to 200 mini experts in about six months in these target sectors,” he noted. He said there will be about 15 subjects and six modules for each subject at the wrokshops.
Mr. Aziz noted that with the end of war, there has been an increase in business activities, which has also translated into more work for the corporate lawyers. Rohan Sahabandu, Deputy President BASL said LAWASIA, the law association for the Asia Pacific region has decided to hold its Business Law Conference in Colombo in February next year. “This is a first time event for Sri Lanka. The capacity building that we will embark on now will help more lawyers to add value to this conference as well," he said.
He also noted that the governing body of LAWASIA, the LAWASIA Council, is comprised of representatives of the peak legal bodies in 25 countries. “As such, its policies and agenda directly address issues confronting the profession throughout the region.
LAWASIA also has over 1,500 individual members from over 50 countries, who have the opportunity to contribute directly to LAWASIA activities through participation in Sections and Standing Committees. Such exposure to the law profession regionally makes this conference an important event for Sri Lanka,” he added.
Mr. Aziz also noted that BASL is on a mission to encourage lawyer-based meditation. “We’re also carrying out major reforms to the arbitration law and a panel of experts is working on this at present,” he added.
He also said that BASL is putting up a new complex for lawyers in Hulftsdorp where the top floor will be an arbitration and mediation centre. |
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