D L & F De Saram

D L & F De Saram D. L. & F. De Saram features a legal team of partners and associates that provide personal attention De Saram is one of the oldest law firms in Sri Lanka.

Attorney's At Law & Notaries Public

Founded in 1898 by Richard Francis De Saram and continued in partnership by his two sons Douglas and Fred De Saram, the firm of D. We advise and address the needs of domestic and international clients, both personal and corporate, in areas of Civil and Commercial Law.

Getting ready for Sri Lanka’s new data protection landscapeWe are pleased that Shenuka Jayalath, Consultant Counsel at D...
21/08/2026

Getting ready for Sri Lanka’s new data protection landscape

We are pleased that Shenuka Jayalath, Consultant Counsel at D.L. & F. De Saram, will moderate the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’s upcoming Data Protection Awareness Seminar, “Prepare Now. Comply Tomorrow.”

Shenuka will be joined by an experienced panel to discuss the practical implications of the evolving data protection framework and what organisations should be doing now to prepare.

📅 31 August 2026
🕘 9.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
📍 Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

With the next phase of Sri Lanka’s data protection regime approaching, this is an important time for businesses to assess their readiness and begin translating legal requirements into workable compliance measures.

Beneficial ownership reporting has become an important compliance obligation for companies in Sri Lanka, with new requir...
20/08/2026

Beneficial ownership reporting has become an important compliance obligation for companies in Sri Lanka, with new requirements aimed at enhancing corporate transparency and strengthening anti-money laundering measures.

Understanding who qualifies as a beneficial owner, the information that must be disclosed, and the applicable reporting obligations is essential for companies seeking to remain compliant.

In this article, Dinithi Siriwardhana & Judy Dabare examine Sri Lanka's beneficial ownership framework, outlining the key compliance requirements and practical considerations for businesses.

Link to the article: https://www.desaram.com/beneficial-ownership-companies-amendment-act-no-12-of-2025/

A data protection incident does not have to be about a cyberattack complex or not. It can be about an email to the wro...
17/08/2026

A data protection incident does not have to be about a cyberattack complex or not.

It can be about an email to the wrong recipient, a misplaced laptop, personal data shared through WhatsApp or system access that was not blocked.

Everyday operational processes can create serious risk if the framework for safeguarding personal data is not in place.

Arbitration offers businesses a private, flexible, and internationally recognised mechanism for resolving disputes outsi...
14/08/2026

Arbitration offers businesses a private, flexible, and internationally recognised mechanism for resolving disputes outside the traditional court process. Understanding the legal framework governing arbitration is essential when drafting contracts or managing commercial disputes.

In this article, Shakila Perera & Supuni Wijekoon provides an overview of Sri Lanka's Arbitration Act, highlighting its key provisions and the role it plays in facilitating effective dispute resolution.

Link to the article: https://www.desaram.com/arbitration-in-sri-lanka-a-guide-to-the-arbitration-act/

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Sri Lanka’s elephants are an important part of our cultural identity and natural heritage. As a keystone species, their ...
12/08/2026

Sri Lanka’s elephants are an important part of our cultural identity and natural heritage. As a keystone species, their movement helps shape forests, disperse seeds and maintain the ecological balance that supports many other forms of life.

Today, shrinking habitats and fragmented landscapes are intensifying conflict between elephants and rural communities, with devastating consequences for both.

This World Elephant Day, the focus must extend beyond admiration to meaningful coexistence. Protecting habitats and movement routes, supporting affected communities and adopting solutions guided by science are essential to creating a future in which both people and elephants can thrive.

Protecting Sri Lanka’s elephants is a shared responsibility.

Source: WNPS & Nature Protection Society Sri Lanka

We are delighted to announce a number of key leadership appointments at D. L. & F. De Saram as we continue to strengthen...
03/08/2026

We are delighted to announce a number of key leadership appointments at D. L. & F. De Saram as we continue to strengthen our leadership team and invest in the future of the Firm.

Congratulations to:

Aruni Marcelline on her promotion to Senior Partner – Head of Real Estate.
Aloka Nandasena on her promotion to Senior Partner – Transactions and Co-Head of Corporate & Commercial.
Hansi Abayaratne on her appointment as Co-Head of Corporate & Commercial.

These appointments recognise their exceptional professional expertise, leadership and unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding service to our clients.

As the Firm continues to grow, these appointments further strengthen our Corporate & Commercial and Real Estate practices while reinforcing our commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

Congratulations to Aruni, Aloka and Hansi on their well-deserved appointments. We look forward to their continued success in these important leadership roles.

Ending an employment relationship in Sri Lanka involves far more than simply giving notice. The legal framework governin...
30/07/2026

Ending an employment relationship in Sri Lanka involves far more than simply giving notice. The legal framework governing termination is highly regulated, with different requirements depending on the circumstances and the rights of both employers and employees.

For a more detailed discussion of the legal framework and practical considerations, read the full article by Dinalee Siyambalapitiya.

Link to the article: https://www.desaram.com/termination-of-employment-in-sri-lanka/

𝗜𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗗𝗣𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳?Gazette Extraordinary No. 2498/16, published on 22nd ...
27/07/2026

𝗜𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗗𝗣𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳?

Gazette Extraordinary No. 2498/16, published on 22nd July 2026, makes effective from January 1st 2027 the implementation of Sri Lanka’s Personal Data Protection Act, No. 9 of 2022 as amended ( PDPA) to be fully operational in scope, with the exception of only Part IV dealing with the ‘Use of Personal Data to Disseminate Solicited Messages’.

If your business processes data of employees, customers, suppliers, service providers, patients, students, job applicants or if you are a BPO provider of services such as payroll processing services, call center service or claim processing services the PDPA framework is likely to impose obligations on you.

Now is the time to ask the right questions:
1. Do we know what data is identified in law as ‘personal data’?
2. Does our organisation process ‘personal data’?
3. Are we ready to inform our data subjects what their rights are vis-à-vis our organisation?
4. Do we have appropriate policies and procedures for handling personal data?
5. Is personal data adequately protected from unauthorised access or disclosure?
6. Does the organisation need to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?
7. Have our employees been trained in their duties and responsibilities?
8. If a data breach occurred tomorrow, would we know what steps to take?
9. What is our liability for non-compliance with the PDPA?

Businesses that begin preparing today will be able to gain a competitive advantage by being better prepared to meet legal obligations, strengthening stakeholder confidence and minimising business and other risks.

Data protection is not an IT issue. It is a governance, legal and business imperative that deserves the attention of every BOD and of management at the highest levels.

At D. L. & F. De Saram, we will be sharing practical guidance over the coming months to help businesses understand the requirements and prepare for compliance readiness for 1st January 2027.

Can a Labour Tribunal award compensation even if an employee has not suffered financial loss?The assessment of compensat...
24/07/2026

Can a Labour Tribunal award compensation even if an employee has not suffered financial loss?

The assessment of compensation by Labour Tribunals involves a range of legal and factual considerations, extending beyond the calculation of lost earnings alone.

In this article, Dinalee Siyambalapitiya examines how compensation awards are determined under Sri Lankan labour law and the key principles applied by Labour Tribunals when exercising their discretion.

Link to the article https://www.desaram.com/sri-lanka-labour-tribunal-compensation-awards/

We are delighted to share that our Consultant Counsel, Shenuka Jayalath, will be speaking at the 2nd Data Privacy & Prot...
22/07/2026

We are delighted to share that our Consultant Counsel, Shenuka Jayalath, will be speaking at the 2nd Data Privacy & Protection Summit 2026, taking place on 23 July 2026 at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

As organisations increasingly navigate complex data protection, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance obligations, events such as these provide an important platform for practical discussion on emerging legal and governance challenges.

Shenuka will join an esteemed panel of regulators, industry leaders and technology professionals to share insights on Sri Lanka’s evolving data protection landscape and the legal considerations organisations should be addressing as they strengthen their governance and compliance frameworks.

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Alexandra Place
Colombo
00700

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Monday 08:30 - 17:00
Tuesday 08:30 - 17:00
Wednesday 08:30 - 17:00
Thursday 08:30 - 17:00
Friday 08:30 - 17:00

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+94112695782

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