LAWASIA Colombo conference adopts policy paper on common ICT Laws

The need to adopt common procedures by Sri Lanka and other Asia-Pacific nations to apply laws preventing the spread of computer crimes has been emphasized by Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva when he inaugurated the recent LAWASIA ICT 2008 conference in Colombo.

He added that laws have to be effectively enforced to tackle abuse of electronic transactions in the Asia – Pacific region. He pointed out that the region should have common standards for recognition, enforcement and common stands to check abuse in the Asia –Pacific region. The Chief Justice said that “when Europe has got together, our region is disintegrating due to various narrow-minded issues. Therefore he called upon participants of the LAWASIA conference to introduce common standards where the countries in the region will get the full benefit of e-commerce.

The LAWASIA 2008 conference has prepared a policy paper on common approaches to ICT Laws in the region during its two day deliberations. LAWASIA is a professional association of representatives of bar councils, law associations, individual lawyers, law firms and corporations generally from the Asia Pacific region.

The association has over 50 member countries including Sri Lanka.

The need to train more investigators to probe computer crimes and common policies and laws to combat electronic crimes which can extend across borders was highlighted by Sri Lankan legal professionals who attended the conference.

The computer and electronic crimes have given a new dimension to the legal system where investigators have to be trained in computer technology and e-commerce to help detect frauds, they said. Stronger regional and international cooperation and policies on combating computer and electronic crime, proper data protection systems, privacy policies and proper mechanisms to send or receive accused, witnesses or documents have been emphasized by participants at the conclusion of the two-day meeting.