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| Thursday, 2 December 2004 |
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Sri Lanka concluded a transfer of Offenders Agreement with Pakistan yesterday in Colombo, the Foreign Ministry said. The Agreement was signed between Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, on behalf of Sri Lanka and Bashir Wali Mohmand, High Commissioner in Sri Lanka for Pakistan, the Ministry said. Sri Lanka has enacted national legislation, inter-alia, to given effect to the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders in 1995. The Act requires the entering into a bilateral agreement to extend the provisions of the Act to a "specified country". The Sri Lankan Government has already concluded Prisoner Transfer Agreements with the United Kingdom and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region) and an agreement with Kuwait is ready for signature. The conclusion of this agreement would provide the legal framework for the transfer of sentenced persons. The rationale for the Agreement being to facilitate the successful rehabilitation of prisoners into the society. It also gives foreigners deprived of their liberty as a result of their commission of a criminal offence, the opportunity to serve their sentences within their own country, the Ministry said. This is just one of the enhanced spheres of cooperation with Pakistan, whose Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz paid an official visit to Sri Lanka recently. Addressing the media during his visit, Aziz said the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will come into effect before January. "There are a few minor issues needing adjustments. A meeting of trade ministry representatives will be held in Islamabad in two days to finalise the agreement which calls for enhanced co-operation between the two nations mainly in tourism, cultural and economic sectors," he said. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has accepted an invitation extended by the Pakistani Government through their visiting Premier to visit Pakistan. Aziz, who visited Sri Lanka in his capacity of SAARC Chairman, discussed many issues concerning regional co-operation with Sri Lankan leaders. |
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