Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath emphasized the urgent need for global cooperation to address escalating threats to peace and security, while addressing the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, on Tuesday (25).

Highlighting the critical juncture in human history, Herath warned that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is under grave threat. He stressed the need to restore trust in multilateral processes to ensure a secure future for generations to come.

Sri Lanka’s commitment to disarmament was underscored by its recent accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2023. These actions reflect Sri Lanka’s long-standing advocacy for nuclear disarmament, dating back to the 1960s. The Minister called for unconditional, non-discriminatory, and legally binding Negative Security Assurances (NSAs) for non-nuclear weapons states.

Sri Lanka has been a pioneer in supporting Nuclear Weapon Free Zones (NWFZs), contributing significantly to the 1964 NAM Summit declaration in Cairo. The country remains hopeful for progress in establishing NWFZs, particularly in the Middle East.

As an active partner in humanitarian disarmament treaties, Sri Lanka currently serves on the Victim Assistance Committee and as the Gender Focal Point for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). It also held the presidency of the Cluster Munitions Convention in 2019.

Expressing concern over the rapid development of advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence in weapons systems, Sri Lanka strongly supports negotiations on a legally binding instrument to prohibit lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). The country was a key sponsor of the first UNGA First Committee Resolution on LAWS, adopted in 2023.

Similarly, Sri Lanka advocates for a legally binding instrument to prevent an arms race in outer space, citing growing threats from the militarization of space technology.

Reiterating the CD’s mandate as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, Herath called for inclusive dialogue, trust-building, and transparency to overcome current challenges. He echoed the UN Secretary-General’s call for updated strategies to prevent an arms race, address advanced technologies, and reinvigorate commitments to nuclear disarmament.

In conclusion, Minister Herath urged the international community to unite against division and deterrence, emphasizing the shared responsibility to achieve global peace and security through disarmament. “Sri Lanka stands ready to work with all nations to make this goal not just an aspiration, but a reality,” he said.