The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) welcomes yesterday's Supreme Court rule that the State and its agencies violated the fundamental right to equality guaranteed by the Constitution to persons with disabilities for the breach and failure to comply with the provisions of disabled persons (accessibility) regulations.
The Supreme Court also referred to the UN Disability Convention (CRPD) during the Court deliberation. Unfortunately Sri Lanka is still failing to have local regulations to implement the Convention in the country. The FDD continues it's advocacy on the matter with the Government and further it will mobilize relevant ministries and Government agencies mainly the ministries of Transport & Aviation, Highways, Housing & Cultural Affairs and others, Colombo Municipal Council to make the city of Colombo a model accessible city as its first step towards Sri Lanka becoming an accessible country. 

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.

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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
The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) continues discussion with the Government on modernizing the public transport sector of Sri Lanka. This evening the FDD had an another round of meetings with officials of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. It has discussed linking the Colombo-Katunayake Railway to the Airport and the importance of having electric hydraulic buses with disable accessibility for the public transport.
Further we discussed the possibility to have CCTV cameras (one near the driver's seat) starting with long-distance buses and well-disciplined drivers and conductors service is expected. We are happy about the decision taken to ban loud music on the buses. No doubt that having comfortable public transport will improve the nation's human security, ease many environmental issues and bring other benefits.


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. 


Today's Daily Mirror newspaper carries an article on CITES CoP18. This article has refereed to the FDD publication on "The CITES and Sri Lanka."
Read the full article through this link- Conference of Parties (CoP) CITES confab from May 23 to June 3 at BMICH
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.
The FDD received letters from the President's Office and the Ministry of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government on the letter FDD sent to the President and the Government (including this ministry) on requesting the ban the use of plastic and polythene within the Government institutes before the CITES CoP18 this year in Sri Lanka.
The letters were copied to the FDD and the President's Office requested the Ministry of Environment to act on the matter and the Ministry has requested all Provincial Secretaries to make necessary arrangements to ban the use of plastic and polythene within the Government institutes before the CITES CoP18 May this year. The FDD will monitor the progress on this important matter. 

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 Forum on Disarmament & Development (FDD) met the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on the 18th of February 2019 at the Parliament and handed over an appeal requesting the following;
1. Ban the use of plastic & polythene at Parliament
2. Make Parliament premises accessible for the disabled
3. Having an accessible bus for Parliament (Hydraulic bus) 
4. Employment opportunities for the disabled in Parliament
5. Renew the discussion on Parliament's switch to solar power



Discussions were held on the importance of reforming the public transport sector, if the city of Colombo is to become an accessible city. Furthermore the possibility to have recycling plants, a permanent solution for stray dogs, eradication of illicit guns, amending the Firearms Act, re-establishment of the Commission Against Small Illicit Arms, re-engaging Sri Lanka with the UN Programme of Action on Illicit Arms, acceding to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Nuclear Ban Treaty (NBT) and ratifying the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) were discussed. FDD believes that carrying out such acts will increase the nation's human security, concern about natural environment and climate change, and its engagement with international community on peaceful means, which will improve Sri Lanka's image internationally.
FDD also presented its recent 3 publications to the Speaker on "The CITES & Sri Lanka," "The CCW Autonomous Weapons & Sri Lanka" and "Sri Lanka - Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor 2018" and a biodegradable souvenir cloth bag of the Sri Lanka Campaign to Stop Killer Robots.
The newspaper article by Daily News on the meeting can be accessed through this link-http://www.dailynews.lk/…/fdd-wants-disability-rights-uphel…