The Philippines and Sri Lanka have started negotiations on the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TTSP), the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Manila said.
Signing the minutes of the negotiations for MLAT and TTSP by justice and foreign affairs officials of the Philippines and Sri Lanka. (Photo from the Embassy of Sri Lanka)
In a statement on Saturday, Aug. 31, the embassy said that the meeting between officials of both countries’ foreign affairs and justice departments met in Manila on Aug. 12 and 13.
The two sides also began discussing the extradition treaty.
“Apart from discussing the MLAT and TTSP, both sides also deliberated on the Extradition Treaty and tentatively agreed to convene the next round of negotiations in Colombo next year,” the statement read.
According to the LawPhil website, the MLAT will allow the sharing of information and evidence “related to criminal investigations and prosecutions, including drug trafficking and narcotics-related money laundering.”
The TTSP, on the other hand, will facilitate providing foreign prisoners the opportunity to serve their sentences in their own countries.
The negotiations were successfully concluded with the agreed minutes signed in the presence of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Philippines Dr. Chanaka Talpahewa.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel was represented by DOJ Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan, Assistant Chief State Counsel Mildred Bernadette Alvor, State Counsel Leilani Fajardo-Aspiras, State Counsel Florina Agtarap, State Counsel Don Rick Ventura, and State Counsel Chaveli Joan Labrador-Batoon.
Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) were led by Director Shiela Mae Briones and Director Ameroden Daudey Tago from the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs and Assistant Director Bojer Capati from the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs.
The Sri Lankan negotiating panel was headed by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, Additional Secretary (Legal) Piyumanthi Peiris from the Ministry of Justice, and Assistant Legal Adviser Sanjika Kammanankada from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.