On 22 August 2024, Sri Lanka shared the lessons learned on the establishment of National Inventory of Dangerous Pathogens (NIDP) at a side event during the 4th session of the Working Group on Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention(BWC) held in Geneva. Dr. Priyantha Athapattu, Director, Tertiary Care Services/Deputy Director General (Laboratory Services) of Ministry of Health joining the panel discussion online elaborated Sri Lanka's experience, challenges and best practices in implementing NIDP. The event was co-hosted by the Netherlands, Cambodia, Mongolia, Uganda and Sri Lanka.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka, the Embassy of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions in an event themed “75 years of the Geneva Conventions: Global and Sri Lankan Perspectives” on 14 August 2024 at the BMICH in Colombo.
Statement by Her Excellency Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva
at the 2nd Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 22 July – 02 August 2024
Cluster 3 - Peaceful uses of nuclear energy – 30 July 2024
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Sri Lanka is pleased to address the 2nd Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT under Cluster 3 and wishes to reaffirm our commitment to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and technology, as enshrined in Article IV of the Treaty.
Mr President, the world is at a critical juncture requiring the collective efforts of all stakeholders to address the increasing inequalities across the globe. We call on all Member States to uphold the ‘inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination’ as guaranteed by the NPT.
Statement by Sri Lanka at the 2nd Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 22 July – 02 August 2024: UN in Geneva,
Item 4 - General debate on issues related to all aspects of the work of the Preparatory Committee
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Let me begin with congratulating His Excellency Akan Rakhmetullin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on assuming the Presidency of the 2nd Preparatory Committee. We trust your able leadership and ability to guide this forum towards a meaningful outcome and my delegation assures you of our fullest cooperation and support towards that endeavour.
The NPT is considered as the cornerstone of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime and it is a hard-won multilateral instrument to fight against nuclear weapons. Sri Lanka emphasizes the equal importance of the Treaty's three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the implementation of the Treaty obligations.
In a bid to strengthen ties with the Sri Lankan business community in Switzerland and harness their expertise for the nation's development, the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the WTO has initiated revitalization of the Swiss-Sri Lanka Business Council.
Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ambassador R.G.S. Wijesekara convened a fruitful meeting on 21 June 2024 in Zurich with a group of dedicated Sri Lankans which also included members of the Swiss business community keen on exploring opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Mr. V. Premachanthiran, Deputy Director, National Mine Action Centre and Major M. T. A. P. L. Perera, Operation Officer of the Regional Mine Action Centre updated the progress of National Mine Action Completion Strategy and its commitments in comprehensive victim assistance programme at the Intersessional Meeting of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), on 18-20 June 2024 in Geneva.
Mr. President,
Director General of the ILO,
Trade Union and Employer Representatives,
Excellencies,
Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure and a privilege to address this August assembly on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka. I want to thank the ILO Director General for his timely report on the "Social Contract," which addresses the injustices, inequalities, and insecurities we face today, while reaffirming our commitment to social justice.
- 75th session of World Health Assembly-22-28 May 2024, statements delivered by Sri Lanka
- ‘Sri Lanka is a strong advocate for application of humanitarian principles in warfare and calls for regulation and prohibition of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems’ – Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane at the Vienna Conference on Lethal Autonomous Weapo
- Statement by Her Excellency Himalee Arunatilaka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva Thematic Debate of the Conference on Disarmament Agenda Item 2 – Prevention of nuclear war, including all related matters