The delegation consisted of (from left): Nayomi Wickramarathne; Vasana Wickremansa;
Probodha Ratnawardena; Kanagasabai Ratnavale; Indika Demuni de Silva; Ruchira Sugathy Gunasekera; Jennifer Rasmussen; Angel Sharma; Tiernan Mennen; Representative of the Sri Lankan High Commission in South Africa. Seated from left: Nic Swart; Busani Mabunda; Marie Abeyratne; Jayantha Jayasuriya; Annilingam Premashankar.
By Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele
The American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) conducted a study tour to South Africa (SA) for several key leaders from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan judiciary, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Justice and the Sri Lankan Attorney-General’s Office in August.
The delegation had the opportunity to meet with the Chief Executive Officer of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), Nic Swart, as well as LSSA chairperson of the Constitutional Affairs committee and immediate former LSSA Co-chairperson, Busani Mabunda.
The purpose of the study tour was to examine the outcomes, successes and weaknesses in SA’s approaches to addressing Apartheid and its legacy, the role of the legal profession in ensuring access to justice for minority populations, and the role of the profession in promoting rule of law, including accountability.
At the meeting, Mr Swart and Mr Mabunda explained how the LSSA and the legal system in SA work and the delegation learnt about the current legal infrastructure in SA.
Nomfundo Manyathi-Jele, Communications Officer, Law Society of South Africa, nomfundom@lssa.org.za
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (Oct) DR 19.