NEWS RELEASE Media Sec for Minister of Justice and Law Reform

The first academic Convocation of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies will be held on Tuesday the 17th of November 2009, at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo. The Chief Justice Hon. Asoka De Silva will be the Chief Guest of the ceremony and will award 25 Masters Degrees (LL.M.) in International Trade Law of the University of Wales, UK to Attorneys-at Law. These attorneys have read for their Masters Degrees from the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Hulftsdorp, which is recognized as a validated institution of the University of Wales. Additionally, 20 other Attorneys will receive their Post Attorney Diplomas awarded by the Council of Legal Education.

The Minister of Justice and Laws Reform Hon. Milinda Moragoda, MP will be the Guest of Honour and will deliver the Convocation Address.

On this occasion, on the invitation of the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice will re-launch the LAWNET website, which is the main legal resources data-base containing laws, regulations, and judgements of superior courts. The web-site is officially maintained by the ministry of justice. It was inactive for a long period of time, and the new minister of justice was quick to identify the services it could offer to lawyers, officials and the general public and took steps to re-activate the web-site.

Judges of superior courts, members of the Council of Legal Education, senior officers of the Attorney GeneralƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Department, PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Counsel, and officials of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and a host of other legal dignitaries are scheduled to attend this function.