Sri Lanka has called for the elimination of nuclear weapons from national arsenals claiming that they pose an overarching threat to humanity.

“Sri Lanka maintains its concerns that the continued existence of nuclear weapons and of their possible use or threat of use, poses an overarching threat to humanity, and joins the collective voice for the elimination of nuclear weapons from national arsenals,” Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) Plenary Ravinatha Aryasinha said in Geneva.

He also said, “Pending this achievement, we are of the view that there is an urgent need to reach an early agreement on a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument to assure non-nuclear weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.  

“We encourage nuclear weapon states to reduce nuclear danger through progressive multilateral nuclear disarmament beginning with the de-alerting of nuclear weapons and reducing the operational readiness of weapons systems.  We stand ready to work within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament, towards achieving this objective. We believe that it is our joint commitment and responsibility.”

He also said Conference on Disarmament should not be subjected to the vagaries of a changing international strategic landscape.

“…we express our profound disappointment that the Conference has not been enabled to undertake substantive work on its agenda.  In order to continue to preserve the unique role of the Body, it is vital that all of us, the Member States, allow the Conference to begin its substantive work on the basis of a balanced and focused Programme of Work, that takes into account security concerns of all its Members in an equitable manner, thereby ensuring its acceptance by consensus,” he said.