Tuesday, 27 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
81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly: 27 October 2026 Fourth Committee: International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Mr. Chair,
For most of human history, outer space seemed remote from our everyday life. Today, it helps sustain it. Satellites support our communications, guide ships and aircrafts, enable weather forecasting, and provide early warnings of storms and floods. Even countries that have not launched satellites of their own rely on these satellites’ services every day. That is why this agenda item concerns every delegation in this room.
Nearly sixty years ago, the Outer Space Treaty established the fundamental principle that the exploration and use of outer space should be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development. Sri Lanka is a party to this Treaty. These principles remain as relevant today as when they were first established, particularly as space activities continue to expand and their significance to humanity increases.
Mr. Chair,
While the benefits of space technology are considerable, access to them remains uneven. Many developing countries rely on space-based services but have limited access to the technology, expertise or resources required to harness their full potential.
International cooperation can help narrow that gap. Stronger partnerships, training and knowledge-sharing, improved access to satellite data, and greater opportunities for young scientists and engineers can enable more countries to develop their own capabilities over time and participate meaningfully in space activities.
Sri Lanka’s own experiences are an example of such cooperation. In 2019, Sri Lanka's first satellite, Raavana-1, was deployed into orbit. It was designed by Sri Lankan engineers in Japan, through an international programme, was transferred to the international space station abroad a space launched from the United States and deployed into orbit from the International Space Station.
The International Space Station itself has been operated for decades through cooperation among countries whose relations on Earth have sometimes been strained. This experience offers a powerful lesson that outer space has remained, for the most part, a domain where cooperation has endured despite disagreements.
Sri Lanka believes that this spirit of cooperation should be protected and strengthened.
The benefits of outer space should not depend on a country's level of technological development. International cooperation should help ensure that scientific and technological progress extends beyond those with the greatest resources and generate benefits for countries across all regions of the world.
This is the promise of the Space2030 Agenda, which recognizes space as a driver of sustainable development and a means of advancing the goals we have set for ourselves on earth. Sri Lanka values this framework and the attention being given to its implementation. We encourage sustained efforts to translate its objectives into tangible benefits particularly for developing countries.
Space-based information is also essential to forecast extreme weather and for disaster risk reduction and preparedness. For a country such as Sri Lanka, which is vulnerable to cyclones, floods and landslides, earlier and more reliable information makes a critical difference in protecting lives and livelihoods.
Mr. Chair,
As our reliance on outer space increases, so too does our responsibility to keep it safe. The number of objects in orbit continues to rise, and debris already threatens satellites serving countries around the world.
Countries that are only beginning to develop their capabilities should inherit an environment in which they can operate safely. The choices made today will shape the opportunities available to those entering this field in the future.
This is why responsible use of outer space matters. The peaceful exploration of outer space depends on operators taking responsibility including governments, companies and all those whose activities are shaping the future of outer space.
Sri Lanka regrets that the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) was unable to adopt its report by consensus at its sixty-ninth session. At a time when activity in space is growing so rapidly, cooperation within the Committee is particularly important. We support the Chair's ongoing consultations and hope that the Committee’s agenda and schedule of work for 2027 can be agreed.
COPUOS brings together States with diverse levels of experience and capability. This diversity is one of its strengths, and Sri Lanka believes its tradition of consensus should be strengthened. The Committee has continued to grow, welcoming new members again this year, with more countries seeking membership. This interest reflects as to how States of all sizes and level of development have a stake in the peaceful uses of outer space.
As we approach the sixtieth anniversary of the Outer Space Treaty in 2027, we should also remember what made this agreement possible. At the dawn of the space age, States were able to agree on principles broad enough to endure profound changes in technology and international relations. That same willingness to find common ground remains essential today.
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka has worked for many years, together with Egypt, to continue to bring the issue of the prevention of an arms race in outer space before the General Assembly. Conflicts extending into outer space would have consequences for us all, including countries with no space assets of their own in orbit.
Sri Lanka therefore continues to attach importance to preserving outer space for peaceful purposes.
Outer space is the province of all humankind. Sri Lanka's own experience demonstrates what that principle can mean in practice, and as more nations take part in space activities, we should preserve the outer space for the benefit of present and future generations.
Thank you.