Showing posts with label Disarmament. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disarmament. Show all posts
The FDD advocates that the Government of Sri Lanka ratifies the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) on or before the 4th Review Conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention which will be held in Oslo, Norway from 25th November 2019. Sri Lanka's ratification of the Protocol V shows the country's commitment towards becoming free from the threat of ERW in the conflict affected-areas of the country.







During the 9th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) held in Geneva, the FDD met the Bangladesh and Maldives delegations with the CCM 2nd Review Conference (2RC) President and  Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Conference on Disarmament to the UN in Geneva  Ambassador Félix Baumann. The President of the CCM 2RC and FDD encouraged Bangladesh and Maldives to become parties to the CCM before the 2RC which will be held in November 2020.
During the bilateral discussions with them it discussed the possibilities to accede or ratify the Nuclear Ban Treaty (NBT) and Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by Bangladesh and Maldives. Early this year the FDD met both the governments on the same matter.






For the first time Sri Lanka is a President of a UN humanitarian disarmament convention after the country became a member of the UN in 1955. Sri Lanka is the President of the 9th Meeting of the State Parties (9MSP) to The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) which is taking place at the UN Geneva from today onwards.
Sri Lanka acceded to the CCM in 2018 and the same year became the President. Further, Sri Lanka ratified the UN Disability Convention (CRPD) in 2016 and acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (MBT) in 2017. The Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL) tirelessly campaigned to make this happen. Sri Lanka should seek the possibilities to take the leadership in the world of disarmament, be supportive of international peaceful means and maintain non-aligned foreign policy which will help to build the country's image internationally.









The Sri Lanka Campaign to Stop Killer Robots (SLCSKR) concluded a successful discussion on the implications of killer robots today.
The event was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute and the participants enthusiastically engaged with the panelists to broaden their understandings on the topic of Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS).




The Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL) had the honour of delivering the Guest Lecture at the 26th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Jaffna Science Association, University of Jaffna on the topic of 'Sustainable Development Goals and Mine Action in Sri Lanka'
#SDG #LandMineFree2025 #SLCBL



The Youth Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines, Nillasi Liyanage explained the prospective contributions of Mine Action to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of Sri Lanka,  at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the Jaffna Science Association, University of Jaffna. She emphasized on the significant role played by female deminers in Sri Lanka. 






Today the Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) had a meeting with Mr. M.R. Latiff, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police and Commandant of the Special Task Force (STF), Crimes Organized Crime and Narcotics Rangers at his office. The discussion was on the importance of post-war Sri Lanka's national security sector reforms including the re-establishment of National Commission Against Proliferation of Illicit Small Arms (NCAPISA) and re-engaging the with UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and acceding to the Arms Trade Treaty.

FDD statement on re-imposing the death penalty in Sri Lanka

Daily Mirror Article- http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/post-war-Sri-Lanka:-Re-imposing-of-death-penalty/131-170135






The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) developed a video (in Sinhala, Tamil and English) on the importance of improving Human Security in post-war Sri Lanka. The improvement of human security will bring many benefits to the nation particularly the development of the socio-economic, political and environmental sectors.

English Version
Sinhala Version

Tamil Version
FDD press release on the Easter Sunday attacks continues to be published in the mainstream media of the country- http://www.dailymirror.lk/news-features/Amend-legislature:-FDD/131-167075

FDD shall keep on advocating for the amendment of archaic legislature, to provide for better law enforcement in the country.

 English Version


Sinhala Version



Tamil Version



Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL) says Sri Lanka is on a pathway to becoming a mine-free nation. This article appeared in today's Dinamina newspaper. 
Read the full article here- Sri Lanka on its pathway to being a mine free nation
Another reaching out on regional advocacy by the Forum on Disarmament and Development's (FDD). This morning FDD met the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Sri Lanka Riza Hamidullah and discussed the importance of Bangladesh ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Nuclear Ban Treaty (NBT) and acceding to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) this year. Bangladesh is already a signatory to both the ATT and NBT.
The FDD would like to see Bangladesh acceding to the CCM during Sri Lanka's Presidency of the 6th Meeting of the State Parties to the CCM this year. The FDD will continually engage with Bangladesh on this important advocacy work.



Today is the International Day for the Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL) Youth Coordinator Nillasi Liyanage has written an important article on "Women in the Context of Post-war Sri Lanka's Mine Action" which appeared in print and web media today.
Women contribute immensely to post-war Sri Lanka's mine action. This will help Sri Lanka to achieve a mine-free status well before the global mine-clearance deadline of 2025. 


This week the Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Campaign to Stop Killer Robots Yanitra Kumaraguru is taking part in the Global Meeting of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots in Berlin Germany. Today Yanitra was on a panel which discussed about national and regional work to prohibit Killer Robots and she spoke for the Asia Pacific region.
Today Sri Lanka launched the National Mine Action Strategy 2016-2020.
During the Strategy launched the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining - GICHD and Development Partners Secretariat acknowledged the Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL) tireless advocacy work on advocating the GoSL on the ratification of the UN Disability Rights Convention (UNCRPD) in 2016, accession to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention in 2017 and The Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2018.
The SLCBL will continue to advocate and monitor the GoSL on the implementation of these conventions in Sri Lanka.
Not all heroes wear capes, some wear safety gear!

On this Women's Day, a shout out to the amazing Women Deminers of Sri Lanka. They make their families stable, communities safer and the country proud. And smile through the constant risk.
Post created by Nillasi Liyanage Youth Coordinator, Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL).
Sri Lanka Campaign to Stop Killer Robots Coordinator Yanitra Kumaraguru took part in the Asia Pacific Regional Meeting of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots in Tokyo from 18th to 20th February 2019. 
We hope the Government of Sri Lanka will be supportive of the preemptive ban of autonomous weapons.
The Sri Lanka Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, on the 10th January 2019, launched its book on “The Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), Autonomous Weapons and Sri Lanka”. The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) is the secretariat for the campaign.



The event was graced by Former UN Under Secretary General to Disarmament Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ravinath Ariyasinghe, Secretary Social Scientists' Association Dr. Kumari Jayawardena and several other distinguished invitees.


Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL), on the 14th of December 2018 screened the documentary of "Quest for mine free land" which was produced by the Government Film Unit in collaboration with SLCBL. The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) is a secretariat for the SLCBL and the campaign launched the translated versions (Sinhala/Tamil) of "Landmine and Cluster Munitions Monitor 2018" for first time in Sri Lanka.

For this occasion the Government Agent (GA) of Jaffna, mine action partners, representatives from Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, International Campaign to Ban Landmines & Cluster Munition Coalition, international and other organizations, universities, the media and general public attended at the auditorium of the famous Jaffna Public Library. This week Sri Lanka celebrates its 1st anniversary of becoming a State Party to the Mine Ban Convention. The documentary is directed by Nishanthi Kavimal

The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) on the 21st of June 2018, launched its publication on "Why post-war Sri Lanka Should Accede to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)" for the media at the National Library and Documentation Services Board.



Forum emphasized of the importance of Post-war Sri Lanka's accession to the ATT from many perspectives to the media and this includes human security, disability, children and women, environment and wildlife, development and corruption.