The high-level segment of the Conference on Disarmament commenced in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (23) and will continue until today (25).

Foreign Affairs Minister, Vijitha Herath, addressing the Conference via a video message on the first day of the segment, highlighted the importance of a robust multilateral system to overcome the prevailing challenges in the current global landscape and ensure enduring global peace and security, securing a stable world for the present as well as future generations. 

Reassuring Sri Lanka’s commitment to achieving the expected goals, Herath highlighted Sri Lanka’s significant commitments to preventing an arms race in outer space and to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Herath underscored that Sri Lanka will continue to support the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East. Emphasising that Sri Lanka is cognisant of the impact of emerging technologies on international humanitarian law, Herath highlighted that Sri Lanka has been advocating for the early commencement of negotiations on a legally binding instrument to prohibit lethal autonomous weapons systems.

The Conference was recognised by the 10th Special Session on Disarmament of the United Nations General Assembly in 1978 as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. The Conference comprises 65 Member States, including the five nuclear-weapon states. Sri Lanka became a member of the Conference in 1978.