Sri Lanka successfully negotiates a mutual legal assistance treaty with the Russia

(September 24, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The second round of bilateral negotiations was held in Moscow from 16 – 18 September 2009 between the Delegations of Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation in order to conclude a bilateral treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between the two countries.

During negotiations, the two sides exchanged views on current developments relating to enhanced cooperation on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and emphasized the need to cooperate at the international, regional and bilateral levels, in particular in the combating of international terrorism and organized crime. At the end of the three day negotiations, the two sides initialed an Agreed text of a mutual legal assistance Treaty in criminal matters.

An eleven member Russian delegation was led by Mr. Kirichenko Yuri, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and included representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, the General Prosecutor’s Office and of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation.

The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Mr. Priyasath Dep, P.C. Solicitor General and consisted of HE Udayanga Weeratunga, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Moscow, Mrs. Kamalini de Silva, Addl. Secretary of the Ministry of Justice & Law Reforms, Mrs. Nelum Mayadunne Bandara, Actg. Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Parinda Ranasinghe, Senior State Counsel of the Attorney General’s Department.

Sri Lanka has recently concluded several bilateral mutual legal assistance treaties in the context of combating serious international crimes such as those relating to terrorism and narcotic trafficking. The current text which was successfully negotiated in Moscow, is due to be signed between Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Foreign Minister during latter’s forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka in October 2009.

-Sri Lanka Guardian