31 August 2026, Morning Session
Thank you Mr. Chair
At the outset, Sri Lanka wishes to express its sincere gratitude to you, Mr. Chair, for your outstanding leadership, dedication, and guidance throughout the process of formulating this ‘set of elements.’
Navigating these complex deliberations is not an easy task, and we deeply commend your poise, patience, integrity and diplomatic skills, as well as the tireless efforts in bringing us to this pivotal stage, today.
Sri Lanka believes that the ‘Chair’s rolling text’ or the ‘set of elements’ contained in sub-section A of the current version of the draft final report provides a foundation to fulfill the mandate of the GGE on LAWS and thus serves as the basis to launch formal negotiations on a legally binding instrument on lethal autonomous weapon systems within the CCW framework.
Paragraph 25:
Mr Chair,
Allow me to move to para 25 of your additional suggestions.
Sri Lanka wishes to place on record, its support for Paragraph 25, which establishes an essential foundation for the entire set of elements and workable definition for lethal autonomous weapon systems which could be used as a baseline for future negotiations.
We oppose any revisions or modifications to para 25 that risk weakening its substance or reducing its operational scope.
Maintaining a robust characterization is essential to ensure effective prohibitions and restrictions to govern emerging autonomous weapon technologies.
Mr. Chair,
While Paragraph 25 establishes a workable characterization, characterization alone is not sufficient. We must ensure that this characterization directly links to clear prohibitions in subsequent elements.
We note that the characterization in para 25 serves as an overarching, neutral characterization for all lethal autonomous weapon systems regardless of what they target.
Therefore, the systems that operate autonomously against human targets, such as anti-personnel autonomous weapons which are designed to directly target humans must be subject to an explicit, unconditional ban in a subsequent paragraph of the text to prevent digital dehumanization.
My delegation believes that the text needs to be further strengthened through our deliberations at this session by addressing such kinds of remaining gaps in several critical elements.
Mr. Chair,
My delegation has carefully listened to the proposals made by other delegations regarding the text. We view the current draft as a result of compromise. We should determine not to water-down the report in a way that would undermine years of effort, contributions and constructive convergence.
Sri Lanka wishes to recall to this forum and welcome the renewed call by the UN Secretary General and the President of the ICRC to commence negotiation on a legally binding instrument establishing clear prohibitions and restrictions, before it is too late. For this purpose, the 'set of elements' before us constitutes an indispensable foundation and the single most viable pathway to initiate negotiations before technological developments outpace our deliberations.
It is my delegation’s earnest hope that all delegations will strive toward our collective objective by further strengthening the 'set of elements' during this session.
Sri Lanka supports the full inclusion of the ‘set of elements’ in the final report of the GGE on LAWS.
Thank you
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01 September 2026, Afternoon Session
Mr. Chair,
Para 35:
Sri Lanka maintains that Paragraph 35 must be firmly anchored in the foundational principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). While existing international legal frameworks were not designed for algorithmic warfare, current international law must be complemented by carefully coded, specific and binding operational rules in the subsequent paragraphs as a package based on how autonomous systems operate in the contemporary battlefield.
Para 36:
Regarding Paragraph 36, my delegation strongly supports the centrality of 'human judgement and control' throughout the life-cycle of lethal autonomous weapon systems. We place deliberate emphasis on leading with 'human judgement,' as this legal obligation centers on the active cognitive reasoning of the human mind.
Key IHL obligations such as assessing proportionality, distinguishing combatants from civilians, identifying surrenders require cognitive subjective reasoning that machines simply cannot perform. Placing 'judgement' first ensures that 'control' is recognized as the mechanism to enforce moral and legal reasoning, rather than mere technical and administrative oversight.
Furthermore, under International Criminal Law, legal liability for war crimes attaches to human intent and knowledge (or mens rea). If control is reduced to a purely technical exercise, attributing individual responsibility to a commander for algorithmic failure becomes exceptionally difficult. Leading with 'human judgement' guarantees that the human decision-maker remains legally accountable for the use of force. Reversing this sequence risks reducing human agency to administrative system oversight, rather than active legal and ethical decision-making over the use of force. Therefore, we support going back to the original formulation, ‘human judgement & control’.
My delegation remains firmly of the view that introducing the term 'indirect' creates a critical legal loophole. It permits machines to execute attacks without active, real-time human supervision, thereby diluting human control into pre-mission programming or remote oversight.
The distinction between 'direct' and 'indirect' control remains dangerously vague, eroding the precise level of human control required to ensure IHL compliance. Consequently, Sri Lanka opposes normalizing the absence of effective control through the formulation 'directly or indirectly' in para 36. Allowing algorithms to operate autonomously without continuous oversight, directly undermines the core IHL principles of distinction and precaution in dynamic combat environments. However, we understand the practical aspects of exercising human control in real operations whether it's ‘direct or indirect’. Therefore, we welcome the constructive proposals made by the delegations to bridge this gap and look forward to a common landing zone.
Para 38:
Additionally, real-time control is required to ensure the responsible chain of command as outlined in para 38 (a) and timely deactivation or neutralization capability as outlined in Paragraph 38 (d) to prevent legal responsibility gaps.
Para 37:
We oppose making human control entirely subjective as outlined in para 37. Militaries could easily invoke 'operational context' to lower ‘control’ thresholds in a dynamic conflict environment. Sri Lanka is of the view that core parameters of ‘human control’ must remain mandatory and inalienable baselines, rather than discretionary choices based on operational convenience.
Thank you.
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03 September 2026, Afternoon Session
Mr. Chair,
We appreciate your efforts in presenting the revised version of the draft report. We see this text as a minimum standard to move to the next step. Even though it is not the perfect solution, it represents an optimal result of compromise and result of lengthy deliberations we had at the GGE on LAWS over the years. We also understand your rationale behind the revisions.
However, my delegation remains cautious regarding the deletion of the previous paragraph 34.
Additionally, it is difficult for my delegation to agree to the inclusion of the phrase "as feasible" in the new paragraph 36, as it could be read as a qualifier for considering factors to exercise human judgment. Conditioning ‘control’ on what is "feasible" under an "operational context" transforms an imperative legal duty into a discretionary operational preference. Therefore, we request you to revisit the language in paragraph 36, possibly by deleting the phrase "as feasible," which could otherwise risk legally validating unmonitored algorithmic execution as "unfeasible" in highly intensified military operations.
Mr. Chair, we bring these comments at this stage as we see human judgement and control are central to prohibiting and restricting LAWS in compliance with IHL principles.
Mr Chair,
My delegation is concerned about any further dilutions to the text and we reserve our comments on certain revisions in the spirit of compromise and joining consensus.
Chair, my delegation, deeply value your hard work and tireless efforts in the process.
Thank you.
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva conducted a Consular Mobile Service in Bern, Switzerland, on 29 and 30 August 2026, with the assistance of the Sri Lankan Community Organizations in Bern.
Inaugurating the Consular Mobile Service on 29 August 2026, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Sumith Dassanayake, stated that the Government of Sri Lanka is keen to address the matters related to Sri Lankans living abroad including to resolve the consular related concerns, and accordingly, the Permanent Mission decided to conduct the second Consular Mobile Service in Bern, under the guidance of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.
During the Mobile Service, the Mission extended a large number of consular services, including acceptance of passport applications, registration of birth, issuance of birth, marriage, and death certificates retrieved from e-BMD, acceptance of dual citizenship applications, attestation of civil status and affidavits, etc.
Parallel to the Mobile Consular Service, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Sumith Dassanayake had constructive meetings with the Sri Lankan Community Associations. The Permanent Representative also visited Zentrum fur Buddhismus, the Buddhist Temple and Ganalingeshwarar Temple in Bern.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva
01 September 2026
The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, addressing the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on 20 August 2026, reiterated Sri Lanka’s long-standing and principled position that outer space is a common heritage of humankind and must be preserved exclusively for peaceful purposes. Ambassador Dassanayake further stated that Sri Lanka firmly rejects any strategic doctrine that seeks to turn outer space as a warfighting domain or a battlefield for geopolitical rivalry, stressing that all space activities must strictly adhere to the UN Charter and the Outer Space Treaty.
Highlighting key outcomes of the recent multilateral deliberations on outer space disarmament, Sri Lanka emphasized that while voluntary Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures (TCBMs) can serve as useful interim steps to build trust, they can never substitute a comprehensive, legally binding, and multilaterally verifiable treaty that prohibits the placement of weapons in outer space.
Ambassador Dassanayake also congratulated the newly appointed Permanent Representative of Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament and conveyed Sri Lanka’s best wishes for a successful tenure.
Sri Lanka further drew the attention of the Conference on the existential threat posed by space debris in Near-Earth orbit, stressing that the generation of such debris disproportionately affects non-spacefaring developing nations that rely heavily on global space infrastructure. Calling for concrete and effective debris mitigation measures, Sri Lanka cautioned that efforts to manage space threats must not become a pretext for discriminatory restrictions that hinder developing countries from accessing space technologies essential for climate resilience, disaster management, and sustainable development.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva
23 August 2026
The Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, addressing the Conference on Disarmament (CD) on 20 August 2026, reiterated Sri Lanka’s long-standing and principled position that outer space is a common heritage of humankind and must be preserved exclusively for peaceful purposes. Ambassador Dassanayake further stated that Sri Lanka firmly rejects any strategic doctrine that seeks to turn outer space as a warfighting domain or a battlefield for geopolitical rivalry, stressing that all space activities must strictly adhere to the UN Charter and the Outer Space Treaty.
Highlighting key outcomes of the recent multilateral deliberations on outer space disarmament, Sri Lanka emphasized that while voluntary Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures (TCBMs) can serve as useful interim steps to build trust, they can never substitute a comprehensive, legally binding, and multilaterally verifiable treaty that prohibits the placement of weapons in outer space.
Ambassador Dassanayake also congratulated the newly appointed Permanent Representative of Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament and conveyed Sri Lanka’s best wishes for a successful tenure.
Sri Lanka further drew the attention of the Conference on the existential threat posed by space debris in Near-Earth orbit, stressing that the generation of such debris disproportionately affects non-spacefaring developing nations that rely heavily on global space infrastructure. Calling for concrete and effective debris mitigation measures, Sri Lanka cautioned that efforts to manage space threats must not become a pretext for discriminatory restrictions that hinder developing countries from accessing space technologies essential for climate resilience, disaster management, and sustainable development.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva
23 August 2026
Mr. President,
At the outset, allow me to extend warmest congratulations to Permanent Representative of Pakistan, His Excellency Tahir Hussain Andrabi and to the delegation of Pakistan, on assuming the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. Your Excellency, rest assured of my delegation’s fullest support and cooperation as you guide the work of this august body. Sri Lanka also takes this opportunity to appreciate the leadership, vision and commitment of the previous Presidencies of the CD, this year.
I also take this opportunity to warmly welcome newly appointed Permanent Representative of Germany and Actg. Head of the Delegation of the USA.
Sri Lanka wishes to express its sincere appreciation to His Excellency Carlos Mario Foradori, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Argentina, Coordinator of the Subsidiary Body 3 and the Chair of the Open-ended Working Group on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects for his dedicated leadership and for presenting his reflections to the Conference, today.
Mr. President,
The agenda item 3 – ‘Prevention of an arms race in outer space’ has become an important aspect in global disarmament that warrants our attention more than ever
Sri Lanka’s position on outer space security remains clear, consistent, and principled. Outer space is a common heritage of humankind. It must be preserved exclusively for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all nations, irrespective of their degree of scientific or economic development. We firmly reject any strategic doctrine that seeks to frame outer space as a warfighting domain or extended battle field for global power competition.
We strongly believe that the activities in outer space should be guided by the principles enshrined in the UN Chater, particularly Article 2 on the prevention of threat or use of force. Further we call that all activities in outer space should align with the existing provisions of the Outer Space Treaty.
My delegation takes positive note of the deliberations during the Subsidiary Body 3 as well as at the third session of the OEWG in last July. It is noted that while substantive divergences remain, particularly regarding the definition of ‘space weapons’ and ‘the scope of future legal obligations’, there is meaningful convergence on the urgent need to protect civilian space-based infrastructure, prevent harmful interference, and reduce the risks of miscalculation.
Mr. President,
As we look ahead to the future work of the OEWG and broader PAROS discussions in the CD, Sri Lanka wishes to outline the following key considerations:
- First, Sri Lanka is of the view that voluntary norms, behavioral guidelines, and Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures (TCBMs) are valuable interim steps to build trust and confidence. However, they are complementary and can never replace a comprehensive, legally binding, and multilaterally verifiable treaty approach prohibiting the placement of weapons in outer space.
- Second, the rapid developments in dual-use systems, commercial installations, and counterspace capabilities require balanced regulation. Measures must be comprehensive to address not merely the testing of destructive capabilities, but the research, production, deployment, and placement of all space weapon systems.
- Third, any future legal instrument must feature an adaptable verification mechanism. Rapid advancements in dual-use technology and the rise of commercial space actors require verification protocols that can evolve alongside technology, supported by a clear dispute resolution framework to manage compliance equitably.
- Fourth, frameworks established to mitigate space threats must not serve as pretext for discriminatory restrictions that impede developing, non-spacefaring nations from accessing space applications vital for climate resilience, disaster management, and sustainable development.
- Fifth, the generation of space debris poses an existential risk to the long-term sustainability of Near-Earth orbit. Sri Lanka stresses that space debris creation disproportionately impacts non-spacefaring nations reliant on global space assets. Preventing an arms race must encompass concrete rules on debris mitigation to avoid the disastrous consequences of orbital overcrowding and collision cascades.
In conclusion, Mr. President, as a longstanding co-sponsor of the UN General Assembly resolution on PAROS together with Egypt, Sri Lanka reaffirms its commitment to working constructively within the Conference on Disarmament, the OEWG and other multilateral engagements, including the UNGA First Committee to ensure the long-term safety, security, and sustainable use of outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Thank you
The delegation of Sri Lanka led by Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment successfully presented its initial national report under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) during the 35th Session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 14 August 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee), during its 35th session, will review Sri Lanka’s initial report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Geneva on 14th August 2026.
The Review will take the form of an interactive dialogue between the Government of Sri Lanka’s Delegation and the CRPD Committee. Members of the Delegation will participate both in person in Geneva and virtually from Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s Delegation to the Review will be led by Dr. Upali Pannilage, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.
The Delegation participating in person in Geneva will consist of senior officials from the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and Attorney-General’s Department, together with officials of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.
The Delegation participating virtually from Colombo will comprise senior officials and representatives from other relevant Ministries and institutions.
Sri Lanka ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2016 and submitted its initial report under the Convention in October 2019. In December 2025, Sri Lanka also responded to a list of issues from the Committee, providing further information. The review will provide an opportunity for the Government of Sri Lanka and the Committee to take stock of Sri Lanka’s implementation of the Convention and engage in a constructive dialogue on measures to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Sri Lanka will be considered alongside Slovakia, Qatar, Lithuania and Chile during the Committee’s 35th session, which is being held from 12 to 27 August 2026 in Geneva.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism
Colombo
13 August 2026
- Sri Lanka seeks stronger commercial relations with Switzerland
- Permanent Representative Sumith Dassanayake reaffirms Sri Lanka’s continued cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- Statement by Sri Lanka at the Third Session of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, 06 to 10 July 2026