News

Sri Lanka to sign Convention on Cluster Munitions

28 Feb, 2018

President Maithripala Sirisena, as the Minister of Defence, has obtained cabinet approval to sign the?Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The Government says the Sri Lanka armed forces have never used cluster bombs and showing its commitment on preventing use of cluster bombs, it was decided to accede to the convention which was ratified by 102 countries.

Last year the Government had said at the 7th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions that Sri Lanka fully recognizes the widespread and indiscriminate nature of the harm caused by cluster munitions, and their capacity to remain dangerous, kill and maim civilians long after conflict has ended.

The Government said it considers the?Convention on Cluster Munitions as an important instrument that seeks to?complement the international legal framework on disarmament.

The Convention embodies the concept of humanitarian disarmament, according?highest priority on the protection of civilians.

Sri Lanka has consistently maintained that cluster munitions were never?used by Sri Lanka?s security forces during the conflict, and that they will?never be used in the future. (Colombo Gazette)

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