Creating Legal Frameworks for Social Enterprises.
Creating Legal Frameworks for Social Enterprises.
Date
Wednesday 17 December 2014
18:00 to 19:30
Location
British Council Colombo Library

Sri Lanka needs to develop new legal frameworks to support the development of a thriving social enterprise sector. The existing laws and systems are not capable of addressing the issues faced by modern social businesses. More and more charities in Sri Lanka are changing in to social businesses. The current laws may not be sufficient to control the risks to the community and the environment. With the rapid growth of social enterprises, countries like the UK and USA have introduced new company models such as Community Interest Companies (CICs) and B-corporations (B-corps). 

This evening talk will discuss the legal issues faced by emerging social entrepreneurs and corporate citizens in Sri Lanka and explore innovative solutions with a long term view.

iProbono is a non-profit online network connecting civil society organisations and social businesses in need of legal assistance with lawyers and students who want to use their legal skills for the public good.

Our panelists and keynote speakers include:

Upul Jayasuriya

President, Bar Association

BASL with a membership of over 15,000 is also vested with the disciplinary control of the members of the legal fraternity. BASL has taken up issues pertaining to Rule of Law and Independence of Judiciary. He has been a senior member of the Bar nearing 40 years. It has fought hard for transparent appointing process of the Judges to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. BASL has particularly championed the cause of public issues affecting the day to day life of the members of civil society.

Aritha Wickramasinghe

Solicitor, iProbono

Aritha graduated from Political Science with Sociology in 2005 from the University of Birmingham. He then completed the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies also at the University of Birmingham before studying International Criminal Law and International Oil and Gas Law in Cairo. Aritha briefly worked at the Chambers of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Tanzania after which he continued to study for an LLM at LSE.

Selyna Peiris

Selyna Peiris

Attorney-at-Law, Social Entrepreneur, Selyn Handlooms

She has her LLB (Hons.) from the University of Hull and LLM in International Business Law from University College London. She is a post-graduate of International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, Austria. She has worked at the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation both in Vienna and in Sri Lanka and works as a freelance consultant for various government, non-governmental and international organisations in the area of social business development. 

Dr. Amanda Kiessel

Dr. Amanda Kiessel

Board Member, Good Market

Amanda has an undergraduate degree in Biology with a focus on Ecotoxicology, a Masters in Sustainable International Development, and a Ph.D. in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. Amanda has professional experience in rural development, institutional capacity building, sustainable agriculture, and social enterprise. She serves on the Board of Sevalanka Foundation and Seva Organic Seeds and the Executive Committee of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists.

Share this