Australia, Lanka talk on legal reforms

Dulshani Gunawardena

Justice and Law Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda had an expensive discussion with visiting Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith yesterday focusing mainly on the issues faced by post-war Sri Lanka.

They also discussed the possibility of building both an efficient and effective legal system with the Australian support.

While briefing the Australian Foreign Minister on the challenges faced by post-war Sri Lanka, Moragoda discussed the possible support from Australia for the Ministry's program with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to rehabilitate former LTTE cadres.

Special emphasis was placed on the current issue of people smuggling faced by both countries and the need of a steady legal policy to bring forward a solution.

Focusing on the upcoming Prisons Reform Act, the Ministers discussed the possibility of establishing a framework between two countries which would include capacity building and training for judges or prosecutes and prison officials through Australian sources.

The Australian Foreign Minister was accompanied by Australian High Commissioner, Kathy Klugman and Australia's Special Representative for Sri Lanka, John McCarthy.