An Agreement between Sri Lanka and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HK SAR) of the People’s Republic of China concerning Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters was signed on June 16 at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Suhada Gamalath and Secretary for Security of the Department of Justice, Ambrose S K Lee signed the agreement on behalf of Sri Lanka and Hong Kong respectively.

On an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the commencement of negotiations between the two parties began in early 2003 with a view to further enhance co-operation between the two countries to combat criminal activities, drug trafficking and the scourge of terrorism.

The objective of the Agreement is to improve the effectiveness of Law Enforcement of both Parties in the investigation, prosecution and prevention of crime and the confiscation of criminal proceeds.

The scope of assistance covered by the Agreement include identifying and locating persons, the service of judicial documents, the obtaining of statements and evidence from persons, executing requests for search and seizure and the tracing and confiscation of proceeds and instrumentalities of criminal activities.

It will also improve implementation of the bilateral Extradition Treaty that is already in force between Hong Kong and Sri Lanka thus providing a comprehensive legal framework for mutual judicial cooperation between Sri Lanka and HK SAR. During discussion between the two delegations that led to the conclusion of this Treaty, both sides expressed their determination to redouble efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and to use this Treaty as an instrument to that end.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing re-activated the scrutiny procedure early this year, to enable both parties to conclude the Agreement without further delays.