Lanka hosts AALCO's 50th annual session

Chaminda PERERA

Sri Lanka will host the 50th annual session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) from June 26 to July 1 in Colombo.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will inaugurate the session on June 27 at Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel.

Over 210 delegates are expected to participate in the 50th annual session which is considered a tangible outcome of the historic Bandung Summit held in Indonesia in 1955.

Seven Asian countries including Sri Lanka and Burma are original members of the organization.

Over 47 countries comprising major states in the Asian and African continents have become the members of this organization and several countries and legal organizations enjoy observer status too.

According to External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, 10 Justice ministers and six Attornies General in the Asian and African regions will participate in the Colombo session.

Addressing a press briefing at the External Affairs ministry yesterday, Prof Peiris said former Vice President of International Court of Justice, C G Weeramantry will also address the session.