On a proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved Sri Lanka’s accession to the convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons, which may be deemed to be, excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects (Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons). While acceding to this convention, Sri Lanka will also become a party to the amended protocol II on mines, booby traps and other devices, protocol II on incendiary weapons and protocol IV on blinding laser weapons.

The Cabinet of Ministers has further approved the submission of a report, on a voluntary basis,
under article VII of the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel land mines to which Sri Lanka is yet to become a State Party.

The above measures are a reiteration of Sri Lanka’s unwavering commitment towards the further promotion of humanitarian law, and its continued constructive engagement with the international community, on the issue of land mines.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is expected to formally deposit the Instrument of Accession of Sri Lanka to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons at the ‘Treaty Event-2004’ to be held in New York from 21-24 September 2004, during the 59th session of the UN General Assembly.