India,SL close to agreeing on prisoner exchange

The agreement will provide for exchange of prisoners between the two countries which will be tantamount to prisoners of either country serving their respective sentences in their home country, he said.

According to officials,the bilateral treaty for prisoner exchange had been in the pipeline for around two years,but was now nearing finalisation with the draft currently being studied by the Attorney Generals Department.

Officials said they were hopeful the agreement would be completed despite the extended drafting time.

Kariyawasam,a senior Foreign Ministry official,noted that the deal would enable prisoners who are convicted in the other country to be returned to complete their prison sentences in their country of origin.

Of course there is certain criteria that should be fulfilled for this exchange but that is the gist of it, officials pointed out. Reopens FGN 41) Officials explained that this would mean Sri Lankans who have been convicted in India can be returned to Sri Lanka and vice versa to serve their sentence.

When asked what his plans in India would be when he takes over as the new High Commissioner,Kariyawasam said he had just been nominated for the post,indicating the process of his taking over was on.

Prasad Kariyawasam,a career diplomat and experienced India hand who was Colombos former envoy to the UN,was appointed as the new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to New Delhi late last month.

The 55-year-old Kariyawasam succeeds Romesh Jayasinghe,who will be the new Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka.

He joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1981 and has held diplomatic assignments at Sri Lanka Missions in Geneva,Riyadh,Washington and New Delhi,in the latter as the Deputy High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in India.

Jayasinghe will take over as Foreign Secretary from October 1 from Palitha Kohona who has been appointed as Sri Lankas Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.