The Bar Association of Sri lanka (BASL) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the UK Bar Council and the Bar Council of India to facilitate collaborative activities in emerging areas of expertise such as the utilisation of Artificial Intelligence in legal procedures, commercial mediation, and arbitration. This is meant to stay abreast of global trends, the BASL said in a statement that dealt with their Golden Jubilee celebrations and other planned activities.

The text of the BASL statement: The year 2024 signifies the 50th anniversary of the BASL, a momentous occasion for the legal community in Sri Lanka. To commemorate this significant milestone and raise awareness among the general public, the Bar Association’s Executive Committee has diligently organised a wide array of events and activities throughout the entirety of the year. The primary goal of these endeavours is to foster closer ties among legal professionals within Sri Lanka and their counterparts in foreign jurisdictions.

The Golden Jubilee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka calls for a series of meaningful and impactful events that honour this historic milestone in Sri Lankan society. To this end, the Bar Association has meticulously planned a range of programmes. The festivities will commence with religious observances encompassing all faiths.

Additional initiatives include the release of a commemorative stamp and first-day cover, an international conference with the participation of esteemed delegates from Law Asia, IBA, the UK Bar Council, the American Bar Association, and the Commonwealth Law Association, as well as various regional bar associations.

Furthermore, a series of seminars and workshops are scheduled to enhance the professional capabilities of lawyers, with a particular focus on young lawyers who are regarded as the future of the legal community.

The first event in this celebratory programme will be a Pirith ceremony, which is set to take place on January 13, 2024, starting at 7 pm. This will be followed by a Heel Dane on the morning of January 14, 2024, at the BASL Secretariat.

The Bar Association’s leadership is currently entrusted to President’s Counsel Kaushalya Nawaratna as the 49th President, supported by President’s Counsel Nalinda Indatissa as Deputy President. Additionally, Isuru Balapatabendi serves as the Secretary, Chamath Jayasekara as the Treasurer, and Mehran Careem as the Assistant Secretary.”