The United State Military Pacific Command in partnership with the American Embassy in Colombo conducted a military law exchange programme to share with the security forces methods of investigating and reporting human rights abuses, a US Embassy statement said.

Subjects covered during the three-day session included maritime law, coastal state enforcement authority, military justice and preventing and investigating human rights violations.

The programme hosted by Captain Pete A. Pedrozo, Staff Advocate
Judge with the U.S. Navy, and a four member team at the Galadari Hotel aimed at exchanging information and ideas on military justice systems and legal subjects relevant to both the United States.

"An important part of ensuring a future of hope and opportunity and facilitating a process of national reconciliation is ensuring respect for human rights. This is particularly important for the men and women of the armed services who represent the Government and the people of their country," US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake said at the program opening.

"The United States has been a strong advocate for human
rights in Sri Lanka. I am encouraged by the increasing complexity and practical nature of the discussions taking place here, which I hope will help the Sri Lankan military uphold the highest standards of military conduct."

The Military Law Exchange Program was established by the U.S. Pacific Command, a department of the U.S. Navy, in 1995 as a means by which to exchange views on legal issues at the military-to-military level. Since then, the Pacific Command's Judge Advocate Staff has conducted legal exchanges with Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Australia, Nepal, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Maldives, Vietnam and Russia.

This year's seminar is part of a series of follow-on activities planned to further enhance Sri Lanka's military justice institutions and promote accountability in the military.