Dec 16, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is considering entering into a prison exchange agreement with Iraq.

A discussion on the matter had taken place between Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem and Iraqi Ambassador Kahtan Taha Khalaf recently.

Hakeem had met the Ambassador to discuss matters pertaining to the Iraq Sri Lanka joint committee for Economic and Technical Corporation.

SLMC Media Secretary Dr. A.R.A. Hafeez has said that Hakeem had discussed with the Iraqi Ambassador at length the protocols regarding the course of action to be taken if a Sri Lankan committed a crime in Iraq, or vice versa.

According to the proposition made, Sri Lankan or Iraqi criminals facing charges in Iraq or Sri Lanka respectively were to be allowed to serve his or her prison sentence in their own country.

Hakeem had said such a move would help the host country cut down costs.

Iraqi Ambassador Khalaf had said that relatives and family members of the prisoners would get a chance to visit them while under incarceration.