Thursday, 22 October 2026
Presenter: Mr. Chatura Perera
Location: New York
Statement by Mr. Chatura Perera, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations: First Committee – Cluster 4 Conventional Weapons
81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly:
22 October 2026
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement. I would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity.
The human cost of conventional weapons remains high. The illicit flow of arms continues to fuel conflict and instability and falls hardest on civilians. Let us remember that reality throughout our discussions.
Mr. Chair,
When States do not meet their commitments under existing binding instruments, international peace and security suffer. The continued illicit trade in small arms and light weapons remains a serious challenge in this regard, and perhaps one of the most overlooked. These weapons are widely accessible and easily transported, and their human and economic toll is heavy. Because they are so easily diverted, these weapons reach terrorists, armed groups and organized crime networks.
Mr Chair,
Sri Lanka continues to strengthen its institutional and operational measures to prevent small arms and light weapons from falling into the hands of these groups and networks. Particular emphasis is placed on the effective management, storage, issuance, accounting, and oversight of State-held small arms and light weapons through accountability procedures and regular auditing mechanisms.
Marking, tracing, and border controls all need strengthening. Developing countries need the technical capacity to implement the Programme of Action and the International Tracing Instrument, and these instruments must keep pace with developments in weapons technology. We join NAM in urging the full implementation of the fellowship training programme on small arms and light weapons, and we welcome the decision to establish a dedicated funding mechanism for international cooperation.
Sri Lanka welcomes the Ninth Biennial Meeting of States, held here in June 2026, which built on the consensus outcome of the Fourth Review Conference.
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka continues to work diligently to translate its commitments into action under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Sri Lanka’s national mine action programme continues to advance clearance toward a mine-free Sri Lanka.
As of 31 July 2026, just under 21 square kilometres of land remain to be cleared of mines, primarily in complex and densely forested areas. At a time of funding constraints, international assistance will be essential to maintain momentum towards that goal. We thank our key implementing partners - DASH, SHARP, HALO Trust, and MAG - for their unwavering assistance over the years in helping Sri Lanka achieve its goal of becoming a nation free of landmines.
Mine action and the rehabilitation of victims continue to require sustained international support.
Sri Lanka acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2018 and has fulfilled key obligations under the Convention. Here, too, clearance operations and the rehabilitation of victims depend on continued international support.
Mr. Chair,
Emerging technologies are changing the landscape of conventional weapons. Sri Lanka is deeply troubled by the prospect of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), which raise legal, ethical and humanitarian concerns that cannot be set aside. Sri Lanka strongly supports the early commencement of negotiations on a legally binding instrument to prohibit LAWS and became one of the main sponsors of the UNGA First Committee resolution on LAWS. Sri Lanka also welcomes the renewed call by the UN Secretary General and the President of the ICRC to that effect and recognizes the urgency of this matter before the rapid advancement of technologies outpaces our discussions.
The Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons is approaching, which gives us a timely opportunity to advance work towards a legally binding instrument in the area of LAWS, while reaffirming that international humanitarian law applies fully to all weapons systems.
We also take note of the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management. Managing ammunition across its life cycle is fundamental to keeping it from being diverted or misused.
Illicit flows are not the only factor that weakens our security. So does the imbalance in how weapons are produced and traded. Sri Lanka supports NAM’s call for industrialized States to reduce conventional arms production and lower military spending, so that those resources can instead be directed towards development and poverty eradication.
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka will continue to work with this cluster, drawing on our own experience and our firm belief that lasting security rests on disarmament and multilateral cooperation.
Thank you, Mr. Chair