SRI LANKA ASSOCIATION OF DISTANCE EDUCATORS, Launch Meeting, Colombo 5 July 2007, Felicitation Address, Promoting Professionalism: The Key to Quality Distance Education, Sir John Daniel, Commonwealth of Learning // Today we inaugurate the Sri Lanka Association of Distance Educators, SLADE. Thank you for inviting me to be part of the celebrations. I look forward to hearing the various short interventions that will follow and give us an overview of the richness and diversity of distance learning in Sri Lanka, which is increasing greatly thanks to the Distance Education Modernisation Programme. // I have entitled these remarks Promoting Professionalism: The Key to Quality in Distance Education. I shall first explain my title and then illustrate briefly the key elements of distance education that call for particular professionalism over and beyond the professionalism required in education generally. // Let me first affirm that the Commonwealth of Learning is there to help you in every way as you try to extend and improve the practice of distance education in Sri Lanka.