Law and Ethics
Law and Ethics tests your ability to apply Sri Lankan planning, building, contract, and professional-conduct rules to real dilemmas. Expect scenarios on development permits, environmental clearance, contractor disputes, negligence, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and unauthorised work. Know the difference between legal minimums and ethical duties: compliance alone may not satisfy the SLIA Code of Professional Conduct.
Core rules and concepts
- Planning law includes the Urban Development Authority Law No. 41 of 1978 and development-permit procedures; the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 provides environmental controls and EIA requirements.
- The Coast Conservation Act No. 57 of 1981 restricts work in the coastal zone; the Factories Ordinance underpins workplace safety duties.
- Contract law governs offer, acceptance, consideration, and breach; tort law covers negligence and professional duty of care.
- Ethical duties include competence, honesty, confidentiality, avoiding conflicts, and not signing work you did not supervise.
- Copyright and moral rights affect drawings and building reuse; clients own physical documents only as agreed.
Worked example
A client asks you to start piling before the UDA development permit is issued. The legal risk is stop-work, demolition, or prosecution; the ethical risk is collusion in unauthorised development. Advise the client in writing, confirm the permit condition, do not certify unlawful work, and document the instruction. If work proceeds, notify the relevant authority and protect your professional position rather than backdating drawings.
Traps
- Assuming “the client owns the land” means no approvals are needed.
- Confusing an EIA with a development permit.
- Accepting gifts or secret commissions that create a conflict.
- Disclosing client information without consent.