ICCSL seminar on 'Whistle blowing culture'

The Institute of Chartered Corporate Secretaries of Sri Lanka (ICCSL) is organising a seminar on "Whistle blowing - who, when, why and how" on June 23, 2009 from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. at the HNB Towers Auditorium.

Whistle blowing which entered the dictionary only recently as an expression came into prominence after the Enron debacle in USA. In recent times in Sri Lanka, individuals such as former MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Chartered Accountant, Nihal Sri Amarasekera have repeatedly blown the whistle in recent scandals such as Lanka Marine Services Limited, The Waters Edge case, and now only a few days ago, Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation case - all examples of corporate misconduct at the highest levels which violated the law.

In the corporate world there is ample room and fascinating opportunities for Corporate Managers to be sailing more than close to the wind, and right under the nose of their fellow colleagues. In the Enron case, the lady Accountant, after several discussions with the CEO of Enron, decided to put her serious misgivings in writing which eventually alerted the SEC. The rest is history.

The Chartered Secretaries have lined up an array of eminent practicing lawyers, Attorney-at-Law Arittha Wikramanayake (SEC and Companies Acts), President's Counsel, MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (Laws on bribery and corruption in public and private sectors), Deputy Solicitor General Sarath Jayamanne (Prevention of money laundering and financial transactions reporting acts and related criminal offences) and Attorney-at-Law and Notary Public Kandiah Neelakandan (Exchange Control and Inland Revenue Acts and Excise and Customs Laws), to handle the four paper presentations.

Paper presentations will be followed by an intuitive panel discussion. Chairman of the Seminar Prof. M.T.A. Furkhan FCIS the Presenters, President's Counsel K. Kanag-Isvaran and International Management Consultant Ranel T. Wijesinha will form the Panel for discussion.

Insight into how duty can be performed according to one's conscience and with loyalty to the organisation while not forgetting the bottom line, is vital for effective progress of corporate operations. However, the concept of whistle blowing remains rather elusive. This ICCS seminar is to provide a forum for learning and interactive discussion on these matters.