Addressing the Informal Exchanges on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Military Domain and its Implications for International Peace and Security, on 15 June 2026, at the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador and Permanent Representative Sumith Dassanayake highlighted Sri Lanka’s strong position to negotiate a legally binding instrument to address the challenges and concerns posed by emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS).
In his intervention, Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake emphasised that on-going discussions in the UN system should evolve beyond autonomous weapons systems and need to increasingly focus on new and emerging AI capabilities such as AI Decision Support Systems (AI-DSS), AI cyber capabilities, integrating AI into nuclear weapons etc.
Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake further underscored that the application of AI in the military domain raises serious concerns regarding human responsibility, accountability, the increased risk of miscalculation and escalation of potential violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Sri Lanka strongly advocates for human centrality throughout the life cycle of AI in Military Domain and strongly opposes the dehumanization of decision-making and the transfer of life-and-death decisions to machines and algorithms.
The informal exchanges were convened in Geneva pursuant to the mandate of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 80/58 presented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea. Sri Lanka also voted in favour of the resolution.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva
16 June 2026
Excellencies,
Sri Lanka welcomes the convening of these informal exchanges in Geneva under General Assembly resolution 80/58, and appreciates the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea for this initiative. We also thank the Office for Disarmament Affairs for organizing this timely and important process in an inclusive manner. We also welcome the Secretary-General’s report A/80/78, which provides a useful baseline for our discussions by reflecting the diversity of views across States, International and regional organizations, civil society and other stakeholders.
Sri Lanka has been strongly advocating for a legally binding instrument to address the challenges and concerns raised by emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems, in particular through the ongoing and valuable work of the Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS), established under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). Simultaneously as a main sponsor of the UNGA Resolution on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and a supporter of the resolution 80/58 which is mandated to convene these informal consultations, Sri Lanka strongly believes that it is essential to ensure complementarity between different discussions on AI in military domain in UN Disarmament machinery. Therefore, it is important to address rapidly growing concerns of AI in Military Domain through well-coordinated centralized UN mechanism at in a non-discriminatory and inclusive approach covering all aspects, including humanitarian, legal, security, technological and ethical perspectives. These discussions should avoid duplications.
As outlined in the UNGA Resolution 80/58, Sri Lanka also support that that ‘international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law, applies to matters governed by it that occur throughout the life cycle of artificial intelligence capabilities as well as the systems that they enable in the military domain’.
While understanding the complex legal challenges posed by AI applications in military domain, Sri Lanka is of the view that the existing international law, particularly the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) should be strictly adhered and any new laws, legal and normative frameworks should be negotiated particularly based on the existing IHL.
Further Sri Lanka supports resolution’s focus ‘on the whole life cycle of artificial intelligence capabilities applied in the military domain, including the stages of pre‑design, design, development, evaluation, testing, deployment, use, sale, procurement, operation and decommissioning’.
While AI is increasingly being integrated into military applications, our discussions regarding its impact are not keeping pace with these advancements. While the AI is mainly integrated into military domain through the autonomous weapons systems, the new and emerging areas including various AI capabilities such as AI Decision Support Systems (AI-DSS), AI Cyber capabilities, integrating AI into nuclear weapons etc need to be broadly discussed.
The application of AI in the military domain raises serious concerns regarding human responsibility, accountability, and the increased risk of miscalculation and escalation of violations. Sri Lanka strongly advocates for human centrality throughout the weapons cycle. We strongly oppose the dehumanization of decision-making and the transfer of life-and-death decisions to machines and algorithms.
Sri Lanka also attaches importance to an inclusive multilateral process that avoids fragmentation, draws on the expertise of international organizations, academia, civil society, and industry, and ensures that all States, including developing countries, can participate meaningfully. Capacity-building and knowledge-sharing in addressing the issues in AI in military domain are especially important if we are to bridge the AI divide and ensure that governance and solutions are both effective and equitable.
During the informal exchanges, Sri Lanka is ready to engage constructively in identifying shared understandings and common landing zones and practical future steps in effectively addressing the issues of AI in military domain.
Thank you.
Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour met Hon. Shobha Karandlaje, State Minister of Labour & Employment of India on 10 June 2026, on the margins of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference, being held from 01-12 June 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting focused on technical cooperation and knowledge sharing in labour law reforms.
Mr. Vice President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
It is an honour to address this 114th Session of the International Labour Conference on behalf of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
I express my deepest appreciation to the Director-General for his insightful report, A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work.
The Minister of Labour, Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando delivered his remarks at the Asia-Pacific Group (ASPAG) Labour Ministers’ Meeting on 09 June 2026, during the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference, which is being held from 01-12 June 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr. Chairman, Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to address the Asia-Pacific Labour Ministers’ meeting today. I extend my sincere gratitude to Bangladesh for hosting the Asia -Pacific Group Ministerial Meeting.
Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour met H.E. Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization of the United Arab Emirates, on 09 June 2026, on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference, being held from 01-12 June 2026. The discussion centered on further increasing employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers in the UAE.
On 08 June 2026, the Hon. Minister of Labour, (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando paid a courtesy call on Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director General of the International Labour Organization, on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference which is being held from 01-12 June 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting the Minister briefed on the wide range of activities, measures and reforms being carried out to strengthen the labour law and social security in the country and sought ILO’s assistance in this regard.
- The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka Celebrates the International Tea Day 2026 in the United Nations in Geneva
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