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Piracy tops legal forum agenda

COLOMBO: The 50th annual session of the Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) will open here on June 26 against the backdrop of increasing incidents of piracy in the region, and at a time when some nations are pushing for higher cooperation in legal matters.

Eminent jurists, lawmakers from 47 member countries, and the President of the International Court of Justice, Hisashi Owada, will attend the six-day deliberation, which does not list mutual legal assistance in criminal matters as part of the agenda.

“Some member countries have reservations in acceding to the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,” said Sri Lankan Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem, who is chairing the conference, when asked if the issue will be part of the conference, given that incidents of piracy are being reported right at the doorsteps of The Maldives of late. “I am willing to include this and other matters if there is consensus among member nations,” he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will inaugurate the 50th session.  

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