November 29, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the full, effective, and non-discriminatory implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) at the 29th session of the Conference of State Parties (CSP-29) held in The Hague, Netherlands, on November 27.
Delivering the national statement, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Rekha Gunasekera, who also serves as the Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), emphasized the importance of sustained commitment to the obligations of the CWC. She stated that Sri Lanka firmly opposes the use or threat of chemical weapons under any circumstances and highlighted the country’s continued efforts at the national level through the National Authority under the Defence Ministry.
Ambassador Gunasekera also expressed Sri Lanka’s support for international cooperation in advancing scientific and technological exchanges for peaceful purposes in line with the Convention. She noted the importance of addressing emerging technological challenges, including the role of artificial intelligence, while ensuring that advancements in chemistry are not misused by terrorists.
Sri Lanka signed the Chemical Weapons Convention on January 14, 1993, and ratified it on August 19, 1994. The Convention, implemented by the OPCW, prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and mandates their destruction. The 29th session of CSP-29 continues from November 25–29.
