UNCITRAL in Colombo this week after 25 years

Monday, 15 September 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Progress made by ICTA in electronic and cyber laws pays dividends

The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNCITRAL-RCAP) will conduct its South Asia Seminar on 18 and 19 September in Colombo. Held in association with the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), this seminar will be the first ever significant event of UNCITRAL hosted in Sri Lanka, in more than 20 years.

The two-day seminar will bring in more than 15 foreign experts who would join their Sri Lankan counterparts as keynote speakers, panel discussion moderators and members of panels. Each panel discussion will address a variety of commercial law subjects. According to UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific Head Joao Ribeiro, “The panel discussions will specially focus on electronic dimensions of commercial law and electronic communications. It will be an ideal opportunity to bring together senior commercial law practitioners, government lawyers, policy leaders and decision makers.” Speaking further, Ribeiro said: “One of the reasons which convinced UNCITRAL to come to Sri Lanka is its mature and internationally compatible electronic transactions legal regime, which is based on the UNCITRAL Mode Law on Electronic Commerce as well as Sri Lanka’s demonstrated c

ommitment to the UN Electronic Communications Convention.” Speaking about the event, ICTA’s Legal Advisor Jayantha Fernando says, “The UNCITRAL South Asian Conference will help prepare the ground for Sri Lanka’s ratification of the UN Electronic Communications Convention.” Sri Lanka’s Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006 was influenced by this important Convention, the only International treaty on the legal aspects of electronic communications.” Fernando further explained: “Although Sri Lanka was involved in drafting this important convention and signed it in July 2006, we are yet to ratify it.” According to UNCITRAL Legal Officer Jae Sung Lee, “The seminar will also discuss the implementation of Sri Lanka’s Secured Transactions Act No. 49 of 2009 and similar statues in the region.” Lee further stated: “UNCITRAL has formulated a legislative guide on secured transactions, which has influenced legislative reforms in many countries.” Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Mohan Pieris, PC, will be the Chief Guest and Acting Attorney General Yuwanjan Wijayatilake, PC, will be the Guest of Honour. International expert speakers from China, India, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Iran, Vietnam, the Maldives and Nepal as well as high level representatives from UNCITRAL, IFC (World Bank), UN ESCAP and the Hague Conference on Private International Law, will speak at the seminar. Several Sri Lankan speakers will give the country perspectives to each session.