LAWASIA Golden Jubilee Conference commences today

 Q: Tell us about the history of LAWASIA?

A: LAWASIA is an international organisation of lawyers’ associations, individual lawyers, judges, legal academics, and others who focus on the interests and concerns of the legal fraternity in the Asia Pacific region. The governing body of LAWASIA is the LAWASIA Council comprising of representatives of Bar Associations of 25 countries. 

LAWASIA was established in 1966 with 17 member countries including Sri Lanka. At that time it was known as the Law Association of Asia and the Western Pacific. Again, nomenclature has changed to reflect a more modern world and the LAWASIA member organisations are now drawn from the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) region. 

This is the 50th year since the establishment of LAWASIA, which today has reach to over one million lawyers through its linkage to over 40 member organisation.

Q: What is LAWASIA’s role in safeguarding the rule of law and human rights in Sri Lanka?

A: LAWASIA has nine objectives. The first one is to promote the administration of justice, the protection of human rights and the maintenance of the rule of law within the region. LAWASIA has given primacy to the first objective and in fact the theme of this Golden Jubilee Conference is ‘50 Years of Supporting Rule of Law’.

LAWASIA is very firm on the need to protect and maintain the Rule of Law. Whenever there are encroachments taking place in any member jurisdiction, LAWASIA is prompt to respond with statements, representations and interventions. 

For example, just a month ago LAWASIA addressed an open letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia expressing concerns on the Malaysian Government’s intentions to pass amendments to the Legal Profession Act which has the effect of compromising the independence of the Malaysian Bar.

Even during the impeachment former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, LAWASIA exerted much pressure on the Government at the time. The President of LAWASIA also arrived in Sri Lanka to act as an independent observer of the proceedings. 

Q: What role has Sri Lanka played in LAWASIA over the past 50 years?

A: Sri Lanka as a founding Member has been an integral part of LAWASIA supporting its objectives. In fact from 1979 to 1981 H.W. Jayawardena PC was the President of LAWASIA. This is the third time this conference is being hosted in Sri Lanka. First in 1979 the year in which H.W. Jayawardena took over the presidency and then in 1993 when late Ajantha Cooray chaired the Committee and Upul Jayasuriya was Secretary of the Bar Association at the time. 

Q: As the Convenor of the Conference Committee, tell us something on the organisation aspect?

A: The planning for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations commenced around April/May 2015 when the proposal was submitted to LAWASIA to host the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Sri Lanka. Upul Jayasuriya took this proposal to the LAWSIA Council Meeting in Hong Kong to impress upon them that Sri Lanka was the ideal location. They unanimously accepted this proposal and here we are hosting the Historic LAWASIA 50th Jubilee Conference in Sri Lanka. 

That was just the beginning of the process of holding the conference for the third time in Sri Lanka. The launch of Conference in Sri Lanka took place in December last year and at that event Prashant Kumar, President of LAWASIA, said (in fact this was reported in your own papers) that it was opportune for LAWASIA to have its Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Sri Lanka, being a jurisdiction that has just celebrated best values of democracy and rule of law. I recall he also said that it was befitting that LAWASIA which stands for rule of law and promotion of independence of judiciary and democracy celebrates its golden jubilee in SL being a country that has recently demonstrated upholding of principles of rule of law and independence of Judiciary. 

Upul Jayasuriya was requested by the Bar Council of the BASL to accept the appointment as Chairman and I was requested to become the Convenor of the conference. The committee which came together to organise this event was probably the most impressive committee put together by the BASL. The Committee included the entire management committee of the BASL and several senior President’s Counsels and leaders of the Bar. One striking feature in this committee is that it comprises of many members who were also in the 1993 committee. The all had first-hand experience of the benefits Sri Lanka would derive by having a conference of this nature. 

For example Kandiah Neelakandan, who is chairing the Technical Sessions, Nihal Fernando PC, who chairs the Finance Committee, Anoma Gunatilaka who co-chairs the Registration Committee, Shiranthi Gunawardena who is chairing the dinner dance, and Upul Jayasuriya were all in the 1993 Committee. 

The main organising committee for this Conference comprises 40 members and includes Geoffrey Alagaratnam PC, Harsha Cabraal PC who is organising the inauguration reception, Harsha Amarasekera PC who is organising the gala dinner, Hemaka De Alwis who is organising Sri Lanka night and Manilal Fernando who is organising the inauguration. The Attorney General’s Department is also represented through Yasantha Kodagoda PC and Sarath Jayamanne PC. Even Supreme Court Justice Prasanna Jayawardena PC was an active member chairing the Finance Committee until his appointment as a Supreme Court Judge. 

Since May 2015 this journey has been a very rewarding experience where the whole Bar irrespective of differences has come together in order to ensure that this would be a memorable and a historic conference. 

Q: What were the biggest challenges that you faced in organising this event?

A: This was an event that was put together by the lawyers themselves. All of us have our professional commitments and therefore we have limited time to engage in this type of activity. One main challenge for this group of lawyers was to devote adequate time to ensure the success of this conference. However I am pleased to see that especially during the last couple of months the entire committee gave priority for the conference diligently effecting the work they have undertaken, sometimes even the most trivial in nature. 

Also a conference of this magnitude involves many events that run parallel including hospitality for foreign delegates, accommodation, logistics, visa arrangements and excursions. All of these aspects have to be looked after in addition to the Technical sessions, coordinating with the speakers, managing funds and other fellowship events. We have 20 sub committees looking into the various aspects of this conference and connecting the dots and keeping the group together was indeed a challenge. I must place on record the dynamic leadership given by Chairman Upul Jayasuriya who led this team from the front. 

Q: LAWASIA takes pride in its cross-cultural and multinational diversity. Is this reflective in the participation at the conference? 

A: LAWASIA has continued to embrace multi cultures and multi nations as part of its objectives. LAWASIA has been led by 24 presidents from eleven countries and its annual conference has been held in 14 different national jurisdictions. This is reflective when looking at the nationalities of the participants. 

The participation is from 30 countries that covers 300 foreign participants and 300 local participants. The highest participation is from Australia where the conference was last held last year and Japan where it will be held next year. I must also note that in addition to LAWASIA countries there are participants from UK, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, South Africa, Switzerland and the USA as well.

Q: What is lined up for the delegates over the next three days?

 

A: The event will commence with the inauguration on 12 August at the BMICH and the Technical Sessions will commence on Saturday and will go on till Monday. Several networking functions have also been planned that include an inauguration reception, Sri Lanka night, gala dinner and dinner dance which will provide networking opportunities for the participants and also for lawyers in Sri Lanka to meet and exchange views and ideas. Further arrangements are made for excursions after and before the conference for participants and accompanying guests. 

Q: What are the main areas covered during the Technical Sessions?

A: Over 100 speakers and panellists, both local and foreign, will speak during the 25 technical sessions that have been planned from Saturday to Monday, covering criminal justice, human rights, constitutional law, bar issues, intellectual property, legal education, environmental law, public law, wildlife exploration, judiciary, IT and data protection, family law, political rights, media law, corporate securities, banking and finance, employment law, taxation and risk management, through plenary and breakup sessions.

Q: We were told about a parallel conference – a Chief Justices Round Table. Can you explain this concept? 

A: Fifteen Chief Justices and their nominees attending the LAWASIA Golden Jubilee conference will have a separate discussion facilitated by our Chief Justice K. Sripavan on Saturday. Chief Justices from Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Maldives, Timor Leste, Guam and Papua New Guinea and also senior judges from Australia, Japan, India, Nepal, China, Malaysia and Myanmar will be hosted by our Chief Justice for a closed round table meeting on the Independence of Judiciary. These Judges will also thereafter participate at the Sessions of the Main Conference. 

Q: Anything else you want to share with the readers on LAWASIA Golden Jubilee celebrations?

A: The fact that LAWASIA decided to hold its Golden Jubilee conference on the theme ‘50 Years of Supporting the Rule of Law’ amply demonstrates the confidence the international community now reposes in Sri Lanka as a state which upholds principles of democracy, rule of law and independence of the Judiciary. This is something we can be proud of. Finally I thank all those who extended their support and assistance to make this event a success and I warmly welcome the delegates, the Chief Justices, speakers and invitees and invite them to enjoy our famed Sri Lankan hospitality.