Statement by Sri Lanka at the 2nd Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 22 July – 02 August 2024: UN in Geneva,
Item 4 - General debate on issues related to all aspects of the work of the Preparatory Committee
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Let me begin with congratulating His Excellency Akan Rakhmetullin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on assuming the Presidency of the 2nd Preparatory Committee. We trust your able leadership and ability to guide this forum towards a meaningful outcome and my delegation assures you of our fullest cooperation and support towards that endeavour.
The NPT is considered as the cornerstone of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime and it is a hard-won multilateral instrument to fight against nuclear weapons. Sri Lanka emphasizes the equal importance of the Treaty's three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in the implementation of the Treaty obligations.
We underline that the inability to reach consensus on the outcome document of the Tenth NPT Review Conference should not be a reason to undermine the value of this important Treaty. We recall that the draft outcome document of the Tenth NPT Review Conference contained numerous useful and substantive elements that can be built upon during the current review cycle with a view to carrying forward the continued efforts of the Member States.
The Review Conferences can also be viewed as opportunities to assess progress to evaluate our achievements in Nuclear Disarmament while identifying areas of concern, and develop strategies to reinforce NPT implementation.
The inconclusive outcome of the Tenth NPT Review has signaled to all of us the challenges ahead. The importance of in-depth dialogue to build bridges and arriving at a common understanding to achieve the objectives of the Treaty cannot be over emphasized. We must make a genuine effort in bridging diverse perspectives among the NPT community, through this dialogue, and use this platform to build trust among member states.
We are meeting at a time when issues related to the Nuclear Disarmament have become even more challenging and crucial since the last Review Conference in 2022. Sri Lanka is deeply concerned by the unrealized goal of implementation of disarmament commitments and obligations. We note that most of these outstanding commitments relate to Cluster 1: ‘Nuclear Disarmament and Security Assurances’ and to the fulfilment of Article VI; where each state party ‘undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control’.
As the United Nations Secretary-General said in his New Agenda for Peace policy brief, ‘risk reduction does not suffice when the survival of humanity is at stake’ and ‘Non-proliferation and disarmament are two sides of the same coin – progress in one requires progress in the other’.
While reaffirming its long-standing commitment in nuclear disarmament and international peace and security Sri Lanka was proud to accede to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in September 2023. We believe the TPNW complements and strengthens the NPT regime, and we encourage all states to consider joining this important instrument. In addition, Sri Lanka ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 2023 and calls for its early entry into force. The global moratorium on nuclear testing is an essential prerequisite for a nuclear weapon free world.
While recognizing that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the only absolute guarantee against their use or threat of use, we believe that legally binding Negative Security Assurances (NSAs) are an essential interim measure. We urge nuclear-weapon states to provide such assurances without conditions or reservations.
Sri Lanka also supports the regional resolutions for non-proliferation. As a pioneer in advocating for Nuclear Weapon Free Zones (NWFZs), Sri Lanka recalls its contribution to the declaration issued at the NAM Summit held in Cairo in 1964 in favour of global “denuclearized zones”. We look forward to renewed efforts to strengthen existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and establish new Nuclear Weapon Free Zones, particularly in the Middle East.
Sri Lanka is deeply concerned by the continued expansion of nuclear arsenals coupled with emerging technologies and their modernization and expansion towards new domains such as the outer space exposing the whole world into a new set of vulnerabilities. We also express our deep concern towards technological advances in cyber space which could also enable proliferation by permitting access to sensitive information.
Amidst the prevailing global crises, we witness a clear deepening of inequalities across the world and challenges posed to food security, access to health and essentials as well as growing climate vulnerabilities. Peaceful use of nuclear energy is one of the effective solutions to address these inequalities and their negative impact on the Sustainable Development Goals. The advances in nuclear science and technology across different sectors can have a meaningful impact towards achieving SDGs. We call that our deliberations should also be focused on balancing the access to peaceful nuclear technology with non-proliferation goals in order to promote nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
In conclusion, I wish to recall that it was under Sri Lanka’s Presidency, the NPT was extended indefinitely at the 1995 Extension and Review Conference. Our collective efforts in this forum and commitment are crucial to decide the future of humanity.
We still have a chance to reinforce the NPT regime and to uphold it to ensure enduring international peace and security.
Sri Lanka reaffirms its commitment to the NPT objectives and the goal of a world free from nuclear weapons and we remain hopeful towards meaningful deliberations in the coming days.
I thank you.
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