SL ratifies UN Electronic Communications Convention

ICTA-led efforts to get Sri Lanka join the UN Electronic Communications Convention bore fruit, when Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York Dr. Rohan Perera deposited the Instrument of Ratification in New York last week.

This is subject to approval by the Cabinet of Ministers in early June, authorising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deposit the Instrument of Ratification for Sri Lanka's entry into this only UN Convention on the subject of Electronic Commerce and Electronic Contracts, officials in Colombo said.

With its ratification the Convention will enter into force for Sri Lanka on February 1, 2016, becoming the first country in South Asia and second after Singapore to become a State Party to the Convention. Countries like Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and China are already preparing domestic legislation to ratify this Convention. Sri Lanka's ratification of this important UN Convention was possible because the coun- try already has the required domestic legislation, i.e. the Electronic Transactions Act No. 19 of 2006, which is based on this Convention.

ICTA's Legal Advisor Mr Jayantha Fernando said: "This ratification will ensure greater legal certainty for e-Commerce and e-Business providers who wish to use Sri Lankan law as the applicable law and ensure international validity for such e-Contracts. This will also ensure legal validity for other international legal instruments as well as cross border funds transfers, enhancing the ability of Sri Lanka to fast track its move towards paperless trade facilitation".

With its ratification the Convention will enter into force for Sri Lanka on February 1, 2016, becoming the first country in South Asia and second after Singapore to become a State Party to the Convention. Countries like Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and China are already preparing domestic legislation to ratify this Convention