The Secretariat regrets to announce that the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18), originally scheduled to take place from 23 May to 3 June in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as well as the associated 71st and 72nd meetings of the Standing Committee, are being postponed. This decision has been taken out of respect for the victims of the recent attacks and the recognition by the Standing Committee, the Secretariat and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security of the time needed for the Government of Sri Lanka to address the current situation in the country.
We are fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all delegates. The Secretariat is monitoring the situation closely in consultation with the Sri Lankan authorities and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security. The Conference of the Parties has chosen Sri Lanka as next host Party and we are deeply grateful for the efforts Sri Lanka has made thus far as host. The Secretariat will be working with Sri Lanka to try and honour this choice in consultation with the UN Department of Safety and Security and the CITES Standing Committee.
Our support and solidarity remain with the people of Sri Lanka and all of those who have suffered losses from these tragic events.
We will make further information about CoP18 available as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Secretariat continues to work on advancing the many substantive issues as mandated by the Conference of the Parties.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Ivonne Higuero
Secretary-General
26 April 2019
“A study of the health effects of marine plastic pollution and micro-plastics is important for strengthening national and global initiatives to combat plastic pollution of our oceans”, stressed Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, addressing an interactive Panel Discussion held at the Graduate Institute of Geneva as part of the Geneva Sustainability Week.
At the interactive Panel Discussion ‘Our Plastic Future: Can the Oceans Survive?’ where a number of participants actively engaged, Ambassador Azeez elaborated Sri Lanka’s efforts and commitment towards achieving effective and non-discriminatory global environmental governance, highlighting further the measures taken by Sri Lanka in this context, including at the recently concluded Fourth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi.
“Sri Lanka’s strategic path for sustainability 2030 has, as its central focus, environmentally sound development activities, complemented by international assistance including technical assistance and sharing of know-how”, he added.
Ambassador Azeez also highlighted the constructive role and contribution that Sri Lanka has made, over decades, to matters of multilateral concern impacting the nature and the environment, referring specifically to the leadership given by Sri Lanka in areas such as the Law of the Sea and innovative initiatives taken in relation to biodiversity, transboundary movement of hazardous waste and trade in endangered species.
Addressing the 2019 World Wildlife Day celebration in Geneva held under the theme ‘Life Below Water: For People and Planet’, Ambassador Azeez said that, in this context, Sri Lanka was proud and honoured to be the host of the 18th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in Colombo, from 23 May to 3 June this year.
“We are pleased to note that the Conference has received a record number of working documents and species-listing proposals, making it the largest Conference of Parties in the history of CITES to date. Interestingly, it is the mako shark, wedgefish, and guitarfish proposals submitted for the CoP18 that have received major support from Parties to the CITES. .Sri Lanka is proud to cosponsor all 3 of these proposals at the upcoming Conference, which will also be conducted in a carbon-sensitive manner”, he said.
Sri Lanka is readying itself for the hosting of COP 18 of CITES in Colombo 2019. Known as World Wildlife Conference, the 18th Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP18) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, attracts 183 parties (182 States + European Union) with the participation of up to 4500 to 5000 delegates & stakeholders.
In continuing demonstration of its consistent national commitment to the protection of the Environment and wild fauna and flora, as well as advancing progress in the Sustainable Development Goals to 2030, Sri Lanka is proud to host this major global conference in the Colombo, from 23 May – 3 June 2019.
The Ministry of Tourism Development, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, along with Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva, has been making Conference related arrangements as well as substantive preparations for the CITES COP 18, fully assisted by the CITES Secretariat in Geneva.
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Geneva
14th February 2019
The Government of Sri Lanka has announced the dates for the 18th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be attended by 183 State Parties, and held from 22nd May - 3rd June 2019 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha who made the announcement addressing the 69th Standing Committee of CITES meeting, said as a country with rich biological diversity, Sri Lanka is fully committed to the implementation of the CITES provisions to ensure sustainable trade that takes into account the conservation of wild fauna and flora essential for a healthy and prosperous economy. He further drew attention to the recent actions taken by Sri Lanka in fulfilling its commitment under the Convention, including the seizure of illegally traded blood ivory, which was publicly destroyed in 2016, as well as the initiatives taken to list thresher shark species under CITES Appendix II as a protected species. The offer to host the Conference was made as Sri Lanka is mindful of the challenges that remain to be overcome at national and international levels, the Ambassador added.
Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Mr. Petteri Taalas, has assured to collaborate with Sri Lanka in strengthening Meteorological Services for forecasting purposes, which would be more cost effective and could help avoid calamities caused by changes in weather patterns. He said the WMO was in a process of finding more resources to assist developing countries, and that greater opportunities will be provided to Sri Lanka for capacity building and technological upgrading.
The Secretary General made these comments when he met Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha recently at the WMO headquarters in Geneva. Associated with the Ambassador were visiting senior officials of the Department of Meteorology of Sri Lanka - Mr. D. A. Jayasinghearachchi, Director, Mr. A. K. Karunanayake, Director and Ms. C. G. Premachandra, Meteorologist.
Minister Susil Premajayantha, Minister of Science, Technology and Research of Sri Lanka has emphasized the importance of setting up cross –border cooperation among manufacturing and consuming countries, and in this regard, called for establishing a ‘Global Fund’, with the support of manufactures and voluntary contributors, through which e-waste management in those end-user countries be financed sustainably. He noted that financing e –waste management solely through imposing taxes at the importers level (upstream) or consumers level (downstream) could have negative effects on the access to technology by citizens in developing countries. He also called for increased awareness raising efforts among the public on sustainable waste management.