The FDD met with the Director General for the UN and Human Rights Division Sashika
Somarathne and Directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. Some crucial points raised at the meeting were
as follows:
1. An update on the Draft Bill on
the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD).
2. The possibility of Sri Lanka
becoming the President of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) in
2028, 2029 or 2030.
3. The Foreign Minister joining
the President of Sri Lanka to visit a mine-clearance site in the Northern
Province.
4. Ratification of the Convention
on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of
War (ERW).
5. Passing of local legislation
to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Sri Lanka.
6. Constructive engagement with
the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the
Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA).
7. A request for Sri Lanka to
attend as an Observer State during the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) state parties,
as well as other meetings, with the goal of eventually acceding to the Treaty.
The FDD highlighted that these
matters remain important for improving the standard of human security in Sri
Lanka and that constructive engagement with international disarmament efforts
are key to regaining the past glory of Sri Lanka being a champion of
disarmament.
