President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched the website of National Law Conference of Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) at Temple Trees today (August 17).

The website will facilitate the lawyers and public to participate in the process of law-making by giving suggestions and proposals for further improvement of the legal system.

Speaking at the launching of the website www.nationallawconference.com, Minister of External Affairs Prof G L Peiris said that the legal system of a country should be modernized from time to time taking into consideration the requirements of the progressing society. He congratulated the BASL for launching the website so that it would facilitate the lawyers in provinces as well as the public to utilize this facility to get directly involved in the developments in the process of law.

Stating that a legal system in any country should be people oriented, he added that King Wangchuk of Bhutan told the President during the latter's last visit to Thimpu that the legal system of Bhutan is oriented in such a way to enhance the level of happiness of the people.

Prof Peiris said that the legal system has to be reviewed from time to time to identify the laws no longer needed and the new laws required by the society. He pointed out that laws that could be obstructive to foreign investments must be removed to cater for the development needs. New laws will also be required to ensure speedy rehabilitation of IDPs. The Minister added that the forthcoming National Law Conference will be an ideal forum to examine these issues and to propose solutions.

Speaking at the occasion the President of the Bar Association, Mr. Shibly Aziz PC stated that the preliminary stages of the Conference will seek to obtain critical comments and suggestions to make the law more relevant and useful to present times.

This they plan to do by having intensive interactive sessions with groups consisting not only of fellow lawyers but also others who are identified as those affected by or concerned in the implementation or impact of any particular law, regulation or legal process, he said.

The information and the responses gathered will after further deliberation be formulated as suggestions for reform of the law or of administrative practices, he further stated and added that these in turn will be presented at the final plenary of the National Law Conference.

'Whilst we may not reach finality in all issues, it is hoped that the deliberations will serve as a catalyst for change or bring about better laws add to their better enforcement.

The need for the Lawyers to be in step with the current needs of the country mandates a fresh approach to our old problems', the President of the Bar Association further stated.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of the National Law Conference, Prasantha Lal De Alwis, Attorney-at-law stated, 'this time we wanted to make a change. We found a new theme; Paradigm shift in a united Sri Lanka: How should lawyers contribute?

He added that the website launched today will provide opportunity for general public in Sri Lanka and abroad to express their views. 'Therefore this will be truly a people process'.

'It is possibly the first time that such a wide people participation is sought before enacting laws of this country', he further stated.