SLID concludes high-impact session on directors’ accountability under PDPA

The Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) successfully concluded its high-level executive session titled “Your Data. Your Risk. Your Responsibility.” – Director’s Accountability under Sri Lanka’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) at Cinnamon Grand, Colombo recently. 

Held from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., the event brought together board directors, senior executives, legal professionals, and governance leaders to examine the rapidly evolving landscape of data protection and director liability in Sri Lanka.

The session delivered a powerful message: data protection is no longer an operational issue — it is a boardroom responsibility. With Sri Lanka’s PDPA strengthening enforcement and accountability frameworks, directors now face increasing regulatory, financial, reputational, and personal risks tied to organizational data governance.

The keynote address by Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Chairman of the Data Protection Authority, set the tone by emphasizing that privacy must be embedded into corporate strategy and culture. His address underscored the role of leadership in establishing governance structures that treat data protection as a strategic priority.

Expert insights followed from Jayantha Fernando, Senior Legal Counsel – Technology Law and former Chair of the PDPA Drafting Committee, who provided a practical interpretation of compliance obligations, enforcement mechanisms, and emerging global standards. 

The discussion was further enriched by perspectives from Ashwini Natesan and Shenuka Jayalath, who translated legal and regulatory frameworks into real-world organizational applications. The session was moderated by Boshan Jayaratne, Group Director/CEO of CICRA Holdings.

The interactive dialogue highlighted critical themes including regulatory risk, operational resilience, reputational trust, and the personal accountability of directors. Participants noted the urgency for boards to implement structured data protection management programmes and strengthen internal governance models.

Reflecting the overwhelming demand and strong response from the corporate community, SLID has announced a repeat session on March 5 at the Cinnamon Grand, from 7.30 am to 10.00 am. The imminent panel comprising of, Rajeeva Bandaranaike, Jayantha Fernando, Ashwini Natesan and Shenuka Jayalath with Boshan Jayaratne as Moderator will reconvene to continue this important conversation and accommodate those who were unable to attend the January session.