Yesterday, the Forum on Disarmament and Development met the Peace and Development Advisor to the United Nations in Sri Lanka—Mr. Patrick Mc Carthy at the United Nations Office in Colombo. At the meeting, the FDD highlighted our advocacy efforts that have resulted in Sri Lanka and other countries in the region joining and implementing key disarmament and disability rights conventions and treaties. The advocacy efforts of the Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines has resulted in the successful implementation (via local legislation) of the Ottawa Convention in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s mine action success was also acknowledged at the meeting.

Further, Sri Lanka’s role as a soft power in the region on the subject of disarmament (especially on matters concerning nuclear weapons) was also discussed at the meeting. 

In addition to this, due to the escalation of small arms use in the country in the past few months, the FDD highlighted the need to constructively engage with the UNPoA, re-establish the Small Arms Commission and amend existing acts relating to small arms and light weapons in order to improve the overall human security of Sri Lanka.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Secretariat in Geneva conducted a "Train the Trainers" workshop in Bangkok, Thailand from the 8th to the 12th of July, 2024.

The workshop was attended by states, signatory states, non-state parties and civil society representing China, Japan, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, Mongolia, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

At the workshop, the Thai Government noted that they are currently working towards ratifying the ATT. We would also like to commend the Government of Maldives' productive engagement with the ATT at the workshop.

Our engagement with the Maldivian Government has paved the way for Maldives accede to the not only the ATT but the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as well.

We wish the parties that took part in the workshop all the best with their treaty implementation efforts and encourage them to continue supporting the universalization of treaties.