Statement by Sri Lanka at the Second session of the 2024 CCW Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS), 26-30 August 2024 - Agenda Item 5

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Statement by Sri Lanka

Second session of the 2024 CCW Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS),

 26-30 August 2024

 Agenda Item 5

Mr. Chair

Distinguished delegates

First, let me congratulate and express our gratitude to the Chair for the continued work in advancing the dialogue on Lethal and Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) as well as for the preparatory work of the second session of the GGE on LAWS. We appreciate the ‘rolling text’ presented by the Chair on a set of elements of an instrument to facilitate the discussions of this session.

Visit to CERN, 23 August 2024

 
CERN 1 2024     CERN 2 2024
 
A delegation from the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka led by the Permanent Representative to the WTO and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mission visited the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva on 23 August 2024 and held discussions with the Director/International Relations and Head of Associate and non-Member State Relations at CERN. 
 
Sri Lanka looks forward to strengthening its future collaboration with CERN for the benefit of Sri Lankan students, teachers and scientists. 

Sri Lanka co-hosted a Side Event during the 4th Session of the Working Group on Strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), 22 August 2024

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.

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

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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 ( Item 4 - General debate )

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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.

Intersessional Meeting of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), on 18-20 June 2024

 

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.

75th session of World Health Assembly-22-28 May 2024, statements delivered by Sri Lanka

Agenda Item 14.3 - Global strategy for tuberculosis: research and innovation

Agenda Item 14.5 – Immunization Agenda 2030

Agenda Item 15 – Human Resources for Health

Agenda Item 17.3 -Poliomyelitis

Agenda Item 18.1- Maternal, Infant and young child nutrition & Agenda Item  18.2 - WHO Global Strategy for food Safety 

Agenda Item 27.1 Availability, Safety and Quality of blood products ,Agenda Item 27.2 Human Organ & Tissue Transplantation & Agenda item 27.3 Traditional Medicine

Intervention by Director General of Health Services at the 75th session of the WHA (WHA 75) in Geneva, Switzerland with the attention of Member States to the Resolution WHA67.18 on traditional medicine in May 2019.

 

  1. ‘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
  2. 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
  3. Statement by Sri Lanka at the First session of the 2024 CCW Group of Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS), 4-8 March 2024

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