A Workshop on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 dealing with Non-State Actors and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) will be held in Sri Lanka from 23 - 25 June 2009. The Workshop is being organized by Sri Lanka and the United States in cooperation with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs. Participants from the Government of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been invited to attend as well as representatives of UN Agencies, regional and the other international and inter-governmental organizations.
Secretary/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Palitha Kohona will deliver the opening remarks at the Workshop. Mr. James Moore, Charge d Affaires of the US Mission in Colombo and Representatives and Experts of the 1540 Committee will also speak at the Inaugural Session.
UN Security Council Resolution 1540 outlines measure to be taken by Member States to prevent the danger of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or related material and their means of delivery falling into the hand of non-state actors for terrorist purposes. The Resolution also outlines a series of measures to be taken by states in achieving this objective, such as establishing domestic controls, effective law enforcement measures and drawing up the required domestic legislative framework. The 1540 framework also envisages international cooperation and the provision of technical assistance by Member States in supporting the domestic implementation of the Resolution. The Resolution also highlights the need for effective national border controls with a view to monitoring export and trans-shipment of related items and monitoring of related financial transactions.
In 2005 Sri Lanka submitted its Reports under UN Security Council Resolution 1540 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating an Inter-Ministerial Committee with a view to updating the information already submitted. In this regard, Sri Lanka hopes to benefit from the technical assistance and cooperation which is envisaged in UNSC Resolution 1540.
Consistent with its own policy position, Sri Lanka has strongly supported international measures relating to counter-terrorism as well as preventing of the proliferation of WMDs. Accordingly, Sri Lanka considers international initiatives aimed at combating terrorism and preventing WMD related material from falling in to the hand of non-state actors as a high priority. Sri Lanka has supported important multilateral, regional, multinational and bilateral measures in this regard. These include relevant United Nations Conventions as well as those coming under the framework of the IAEA, and UN Security Council Resolutions such as UNSC 1373, 1540, 1673 and 1810. Sri Lanka is also a party to the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism as well as Proliferation Security Initiative and its related activities. In the regional context, the SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism was concluded in Colombo in February 2009.
As a major port in the Region, Sri Lanka is also concerned regarding the possibility of illicit transfer and trans-shipment of WMD related material by sea. In this regard, Sri Lanka is actively participating in the Megaports Initiative. The Port of Colombo is the first Port in the region where this system is operating. The Colombo Port has also operationalized the Container Security Initiative.
Given the broad spectrum of activities coming under the purview of UNSC 1540, Sri Lanka delegation to the Workshop will consist of a number of line Ministries and Agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Public Security Law and Order, Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Industrial Development, Ministry of Justice and Law Reforms, Ministry of Ports & Aviation and Ministry of Science and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Customs. The Workshop includes a visit to the Megaports facility at the Colombo Port for the participants.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo.
22 June 2009
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