The ICT Lawyers Guild of Sri Lanka convened a landmark conference at the OPA Auditorium last week bringing together judges, legal scholars, and technology experts to discuss the evolving landscape of data protection, cybersecurity, and intellectual property in the digital era.

Dr. Sunil Abeysinghe, President of the ICT Lawyers Guild, highlighted developments in personal data protection in Sri Lanka, focusing on the Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022. He detailed the law’s provisions, their effectiveness, and how they align with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which emphasizes principles such as lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, confidentiality, and accountability. Dr. Abeysinghe also referenced the Colombo Declaration, adopted at the LawAsia AI and Data Conference in 2022, to underscore Sri Lanka’s commitment to harmonizing data privacy standards with global best practices.

The conference emphasized that the legal profession is undergoing profound digital transformation. Courts and law firms increasingly rely on electronic filing systems, virtual hearings, cloud-based document management, AI-assisted legal research, and digital evidence repositories. While these innovations improve efficiency and access to justice, they also expose legal institutions to cyber threats including data breaches, ransomware attacks, IoT vulnerabilities, and AI manipulation. Speakers stressed that lawyers must adopt comprehensive frameworks for cyber resilience that integrate technological, ethical, behavioural, and global considerations.

Supreme Court Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz highlighted the importance of digital content in civil and criminal matters and discussed the admissibility of electronic evidence in dispute resolution. Justice Pradeep Hettiarachchi addressed new developments in intellectual property rights in cyberspace, while Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Indian AI expert Prabhakaran Ramachandran, and Prof. Sampath Punchihewa, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Colombo, explored the emerging era of intellectual property cases.

The event also featured remarks from legal luminaries including Prashantha Lal De Alwis PC, Principal of Sri Lanka Law College, retired Supreme Court Justice Shirani Thilakawardene, Prof. Sanath Sameera, Dr. Thusith Abeysekera, Heshan Karunaratne, President of the Computer Society of Sri Lanka, Dr. Ruwan Fernando, Retired Appeal Court Judge, Pradeepa Ganehiarachchi AAL, Senior DIG Ajith Rohana, Priyani Ratnayake, Anupama Muhandiram AAL, and Dr. Aparajitha Ariyadasa.

Organized by the ICT Lawyers Guild of Sri Lanka, the conference underscored the urgent need for legal professionals to adapt to emerging digital threats while upholding professional ethics, client confidentiality, and judicial integrity in an increasingly technology-driven environment.

A coalition of animal welfare organizations and individual advocates has called on The Royal Colombo Golf Club to collaborate on humane solutions for managing community dogs, amid concerns over proposed internal regulations scheduled for discussion on February10, 2026.

In a joint letter addressed to the Club’s President, Captain, and Committee, the groups urge management not to proceed with clauses 8A.5.1–8A.5.3 in their current form, arguing that blanket prohibitions on feeding or caring for community animals may lead to unintended and harmful consequences.

Instead, the coalition has offered to work with the Club and like-minded members to implement sterilization, vaccination, identification, and controlled feeding in a designated peripheral area away from the golf course itself. They say this approach aligns with internationally recognized best practice and Sri Lanka’s public health objectives.

The groups have also raised serious concerns about past actions allegedly taken in 2025, during which, they claim, community dogs were captured and removed from the premises and dumped elsewhere without due process. They argue that such actions, if verified, would be inconsistent with Sri Lankan law and established animal welfare standards.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance No. 13 of 1907 causing unnecessary suffering to animals—including through improper transport, abandonment, or displacement—is an offence. Animal welfare advocates note that forcibly relocating community dogs often results in injury, starvation, territorial conflict, and increased rabies risk, and is widely discouraged by veterinary authorities.

“Removal is not a solution—it creates a vacuum,” said one campaigner. “Sterilized and vaccinated dogs stabilize an area. Dumping them elsewhere only transfers suffering and risk.”

The coalition stresses that their appeal is not confrontational but collaborative. They point out that humane dog management programmes have been successfully implemented in other high-profile and sensitive locations in Sri Lanka, with the cooperation of management and staff.

“This is an opportunity for the Royal Colombo Golf Club to demonstrate leadership,” the letter states, “by adopting a humane, lawful, and socially responsible approach consistent with its heritage and standing.”

As public awareness grows, animal welfare groups say they hope the Club will engage openly and choose dialogue over division.

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters (SLCGE) held its 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Colombo, marking a significant leadership transition and signalling a renewed policy-driven focus on enhancing the competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s small and medium-scale apparel exporters.

A key highlight of the AGM was the conclusion of Bandula Fernando’s distinguished 13-year tenure as President of the Chamber. Widely recognised as a strong voice for SME apparel exporters, Fernando played a pivotal role in advancing industry advocacy, engaging policymakers, and strengthening the Chamber’s national relevance during a period marked by economic shocks, cost pressures, and global market volatility.

During his tenure, Fernando represented the SLCGE on several national-level platforms, including the Ministry of Industries Advisory Committee, the Wages Board, and SLITA, where he contributed to policy dialogue affecting labour, trade facilitation, and industrial development. Under his leadership, the Chamber consistently highlighted the structural challenges faced by SME exporters, including access to finance, cost competitiveness, compliance burdens, and market diversification. The Chamber placed on record its deep appreciation for his commitment and service, noting that his leadership significantly strengthened the visibility and resilience of SME exporters within Sri Lanka’s apparel value chain.

Following the leadership transition, the membership unanimously appointed Nishantha Bakmeege as President of the SLCGE. Previously serving as Vice President, Bakmeege brings a future-oriented perspective shaped by hands-on industry experience and exposure to evolving global apparel trends.

Bakmeege is the Managing Director of Screenline Holdings, overseeing a diversified portfolio that includes IDS (Pvt) Ltd., Salt & Sugar (Pvt) Ltd., Wilds Wilpattu (Pvt) Ltd., and Gaarda, a contemporary apparel brand. Known for his focus on innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability-led manufacturing, he is expected to steer the Chamber towards a more proactive policy engagement agenda, with emphasis on value addition, technology adoption, and improving SME readiness to compete in international markets.

In his address, the incoming President underscored the need for closer collaboration between policymakers and industry to ensure that export growth strategies adequately reflect the realities faced by SME exporters. He noted that improving productivity, easing regulatory bottlenecks, and aligning national export policies with global sourcing trends would be critical to sustaining Sri Lanka’s apparel sector competitiveness.

Strengthening the leadership team further, Rumesh Perera, Managing Director of Sunqueen Apparels (Pvt) Ltd., was appointed Vice President. A second-generation entrepreneur, Perera brings fresh industry insight and a contemporary business outlook, particularly relevant to the evolving needs of SME exporters navigating global supply chain shifts.

Meanwhile, Hemantha Perera, Chairman of the Issabella & Sarasavi Group, will continue as Secretary General of the Chamber. His continued leadership ensures institutional continuity and strategic stability as the SLCGE advances its policy advocacy and member engagement efforts.

The AGM concluded with a fellowship gathering attended by industry representatives and stakeholders, celebrating past leadership while setting the stage for a renewed focus on policy reform, export competitiveness, and sustainable growth for SME apparel exporters.