Sri Lanka to sign extradition treaties with several countries

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Sept. 26 (APD) -- Sri Lanka is to sign extradition treaties with several countries, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena said on Tuesday.

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena

He said the extradition treaties will help Sri Lanka and foreign countries exchange wanted criminals.

Wijewardena said that Sri Lanka had recently signed extradition treaties with some countries, including China.

He said in future Sri Lanka will also sign extradition treaties with Europe and Asian countries.

The State Minister of Defence expressed these views after submitting to Parliament extradition treaties signed between Sri Lanka and Russia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine, Sri Lanka and China and Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The extradition treaty between Sri Lanka and China was signed during the official visit of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to China last year.

A proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, to approve the treaty received clearance from the cabinet this year.

Justice Minister Thalatha Atukorale said that the extradition treaties have been signed in accordance to accepted international norms.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)