“A Professional Institute for Geologists in Sri Lanka” has been a largely discussed topic for over the past 10 years among our colleague geologists. There were both positive and negative comments and opinions on this topic and finally, in the year 2010, The Institute of Geology Sri Lanka (IGSL) was officially established. Presently, the process of incorporation of IGSL Act has come up to near completion. There are few questions to be asked by ourselves; do we need a professional institute? Why do we need a professional institute? And who will be benefitted by having such an institute? Also we must look about what is the role of such an institute and that will answer all these questions. Role of a professional institute is very wide including; •Providing professional recognition. •Enforcing a set of rules and regulations to maintain standards of the professional activities and uphold the profession. • Providing support for continuing professional development through learning opportunities and tools for recording and planning. •Dissemination of knowledge through publishing professional journals, conferences, or magazines etc. •Facilitating and providing networks for professionals to meet and discuss their field of expertise. •Issuing a code of conduct to guide professional behaviour and maintain ethical practices of the members. •Dealing with complaints against professionals and implement disciplinary procedures •Providing assistance to explore career support and opportunities and upgrade the professional members. Of which, the role of a professional institute, the benefit is twofold; primarily upgrading the standard of professional members (Professional development) and get hold of recognition for the profession/professionals. Professional development is a key component of upgrading and enhancing of a profession, which provides many avenues to develop their profession. Through professional development activities, it would be possible to recognize and explore new opportunities, and the trends and directions in technology and society, become increasingly effective and efficient in the workplace; be confident of the future employability and fulfilling a rewarding career. The Professional institute should necessarily play a significant role in professional development of its members. Several activities are conducted in this regard and have to be given priority by the professional institute. These include providing continuing professional development through learning opportunities and tools for recording and planning, conducting conferences, seminars, professional discussions etc., publishing journals, newsletters, books etc. and providing assistance to explore and enhance career opportunities. Any profession/professional needs to obtain ownership of their career and it is part of continuing development and a means of getting hold of their identity. That will keep the demands of profession or professionals in the country or the world. Recognition of a profession and professionals is a key factor to perform well and exist in the system. Moreover, recognition will upgrade all aspects of the profession and professional. A professional institute plays the foremost role in obtaining professional recognition, because it is very hard to get recognition by individual efforts. To obtain recognition for any profession, a set of rules and regulations must be enforced to maintain standards of the professional activities and the professionals, keep good practices and ethical practices. Presently, Sri Lanka has many functional professional institutes. Most of them are related to management/finance and accounting fields. However, there are few professional institutes such as Government Medical Officers Association of Sri Lanka (GMOA), Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which are very powerful having extensive membership. Some other institutes such as the Institute of Chemistry, Institute of Biology, Institute of Architects etc. are well recognized institutes having a large number of members. Though the geologists in Sri Lanka comprise a small community compared to other professions, we play a vital role in the field of Geology. Through Geological Society of Sri Lanka (GSSL) we have obtained due recognition and have marked our presence by conducting many activities related to professional of the IGSL development and to up hold the profession even with limitations in power and legal framework. Therefore, the Institute of Geology, Sri Lanka will be functioning as a powerful professional institute in the country for the geologists.
(Dr Ranjith Premasiri – General Secretary/IGSL)