After several years, last week, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) convened the National Steering Committee Meeting on Mine Action. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ranjith Ariyaratne, Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, with Mr. M.M. Nayeemudeen, Additional Secretary (Projects) of the Ministry/National Director of Mine Action, leading the discussion at the meeting.

FDD highlighted several key points at the meeting, including, the importance of enacting local regulations for implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Convention on Cluster Munitions without delay, as well as the need for high-level political support for mine action, including H.E. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s potential visit to mine-affected areas and engagement with affected communities.

Click the link below to read other important points raised during the meeting.

https://slnmac.gov.lk/2025/03/03/national-steering-committee-meeting-on-mine-action-28-february-2025/

Our special thank you goes to MAG SRI LANKA for their support of safer weapons and ammunition storage apart from their demining efforts in the country.

Last week, Mines Action Canada organized the Asia Regional Youth Seminar on Humanitarian Disarmament in Bangkok, Thailand. The Youth Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines was a part of the facilitating team alongside MAC. The Seminar brought together young activists from Nepal, Thailand, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tajikistan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

The seminar provided a platform for young activists to engage in discussions on current disarmament issues while also sharing their own experiences, particularly as many of them live in affected countries. At the end of the week, participants had the opportunity to visit the Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC) to learn more about Thailand’s ongoing efforts to become landmine-free.

As the #minebantreaty faces unprecedented challenges during this time, as it celebrates 26 years of lifesaving work, the past week was a reminder that not all hope is lost, and that there is a whole new generation supporting the treaty in these challenging times.