Professional Ethics at Sri Lanka
Professional Ethics in Sri Lanka are shaped by a combination of cultural values, religious beliefs (primarily Buddhism, along with other religions), and legal frameworks that govern various sectors. The ethical standards in Sri Lanka reflect both traditional societal norms and modern regulations, focusing on integrity, accountability, and social responsibility. However, like many countries, Sri Lanka faces challenges in ensuring consistent application of these ethics across all sectors, particularly in light of ongoing issues with corruption and political interference.
1. Definition of Professional Ethics in Sri Lanka
Professional ethics in Sri Lanka refer to the moral principles, standards, and guidelines that professionals are expected to follow in their respective fields. Core ethical values in Sri Lanka include:
Integrity – Upholding honesty and strong moral principles in all professional actions.
Accountability – Being responsible for one's actions, particularly when they affect the public or others.
Transparency – Operating openly, especially in the public sector and business dealings.
Impartiality – Treating all individuals fairly, without bias or favoritism.
Confidentiality – Safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining privacy.
Competence – Ensuring that professionals maintain the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their jobs effectively.
Social Responsibility – Upholding ethical responsibility toward society, often tied to Buddhist values like compassion and right action.
2. Legal and Institutional Framework
Sri Lanka’s professional ethics are governed by both modern legal systems and traditional cultural values. Key legal and institutional frameworks include:
The Constitution of Sri Lanka: Guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, which include fairness, equality, and the right to a fair trial—principles that underlie ethical standards in the legal profession and other sectors.
Labour Laws: The Sri Lanka Labour Code and other laws govern fair treatment in the workplace, focusing on workers' rights, fair wages, and protection from exploitation and discrimination.
Anti-Corruption Laws: Laws like the Bribery Act (1954) and the Public Property Act seek to prevent and punish unethical practices such as bribery and corruption in the public and private sectors.
Professional Regulatory Bodies: Various professional bodies regulate ethics in specific sectors, such as:
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL): Governs the legal profession.
Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC): Sets ethical standards for healthcare professionals.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL): Sets ethical guidelines for accountants and financial professionals.
Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce: Promotes ethical business practices.
3. Sector-Specific Professional Ethics
a. Public Sector and Civil Service
Ethical Guidelines for Public Officials: Public officials are expected to adhere to ethical codes that emphasize:
Impartiality and accountability to the people.
Transparency in government dealings.
Fairness and justice in implementing policies and laws.
Challenges: Corruption remains a significant issue, with allegations of bribery, misuse of public funds, and nepotism in some government sectors.
b. Healthcare
Healthcare professionals in Sri Lanka follow ethical guidelines set by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), which emphasize:
Patient confidentiality and respect for the dignity of patients.
Informed consent and clear communication with patients.
Non-maleficence (doing no harm) and beneficence (doing good) in medical practice.
Challenges: Ethical challenges in the healthcare sector include resource constraints, overcrowding in public hospitals, and occasional reports of bribery in accessing medical care.
c. Legal Profession
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) sets ethical standards for lawyers, which include:
Duty of confidentiality to clients.
Impartiality and independence from external pressures.
Commitment to justice and respect for the rule of law.
Challenges: Concerns about political interference in legal matters and the independence of the judiciary can compromise ethical practices in the legal field.
d. Business and Finance
In Sri Lanka, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL) and Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce set ethical standards for businesses. These include:
Transparency in financial reporting.
Fair business practices and compliance with international accounting standards.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR), promoting ethical responsibility toward society.
Challenges: Corruption, political favoritism, and unethical business practices, including tax evasion and environmental violations, are common issues that hinder ethical business conduct.
e. Education
Teachers and educational institutions are expected to uphold ethical standards that include:
Academic integrity, including the prevention of cheating and plagiarism.
Fairness and equal treatment for all students, irrespective of their background or status.
Respect for students' rights and development.
Challenges: The education system faces issues of inadequate resources, political influence in curriculum development, and gender biases, particularly in rural areas.
4. Cultural and Religious Influences
Buddhist Influence: As the majority religion in Sri Lanka, Buddhism has a strong influence on professional ethics. Core values like compassion (karuna), right conduct (sila), and right livelihood (sammā-ājīva) guide ethical behavior. Professionals are encouraged to act with honesty, integrity, and compassion, and to avoid actions that cause harm to others.
Islamic and Christian Values: Other religions practiced in Sri Lanka, such as Islam and Christianity, also emphasize ethical conduct, particularly values such as honesty, integrity, justice, and compassion in their respective professions.
5. Ethical Challenges in Sri Lanka
Corruption: Corruption, particularly in the public sector and business dealings, remains a significant ethical challenge. The lack of transparency and accountability, particularly in government procurement and law enforcement, often undermines public trust.
Political Interference: Political influence in the legal system, business decisions, and government operations can lead to conflicts of interest and unethical behavior.
Resource Constraints in Healthcare: Public healthcare often faces ethical dilemmas related to the allocation of limited resources, leading to unequal access to care and pressure on healthcare professionals.
Gender Inequality: While progress has been made, gender discrimination persists in certain professions, especially in leadership roles in politics, business, and education.
Environmental Ethics: Unethical practices, including deforestation, pollution, and illegal mining, continue to affect the environment and are often overlooked due to economic interests.
6. Efforts and Reforms
Anti-Corruption Efforts: The government has established institutions like the Bribery Commission to investigate corruption, and various anti-corruption laws have been introduced, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
Public Sector Reforms: Efforts are being made to improve public sector transparency through initiatives like e-government services, which aim to reduce the scope for bribery and favoritism in public dealings.
Gender Equality Initiatives: The government has made efforts to improve women's participation in the workforce and leadership positions through policies such as gender quotas and affirmative action in education and business.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Sri Lanka has committed to achieving the SDGs, which include promoting ethical business practices, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and social justice.
7. Recommendations for Strengthening Professional Ethics
Stronger enforcement of anti-corruption laws: Ensuring that corruption is tackled at all levels of government and business, with accountability for those who engage in unethical practices.
Promote ethical leadership: Encourage leaders in both public and private sectors to set an example of ethical behavior, which can influence entire organizations.
Improve transparency in business and public sectors: Increasing transparency in procurement processes, financial reporting, and government dealings will help build trust in institutions.
Gender equality: Strengthening efforts to close the gender gap, particularly in leadership roles, will foster a more inclusive and ethical society.
Support ethical education: Integrating ethics education into the curriculum in schools and universities will help nurture a culture of ethical decision-making in the future workforce.
Environmental Ethics: Strengthening laws and policies that protect the environment and encouraging corporate social responsibility toward environmental sustainability will align with global ethical practices.
Conclusion
Professional ethics in Sri Lanka are influenced by a mix of religious, cultural, and legal factors. While there are strong ethical guidelines in place, challenges such as corruption, political interference, and resource constraints persist. However, ongoing efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and social responsibility are helping to address some of these issues. Strengthening enforcement mechanisms and promoting ethical leadership across all sectors will be key to improving professional ethics in Sri Lanka and ensuring long-term sustainable development.
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