🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Condemns Global Cluster Munition Use at UN Conference

Sri Lanka has reaffirmed its commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) at the Third Review Conference in Vientiane, Lao PDR, calling for an absolute halt to the production and transfer of these weapons globally. • Key Demands & Position: Sri Lanka unequivocally condemned cluster munition use by any actor under any circumstance, calling on stockpile-holding nations to commit to total weapon elimination. • Humanitarian Concerns: Delegations highlighted the long-term impact of unexploded submunitions on land contamination and future generations, advocating for enhanced victim assistance, remnant clearance, and risk education for youth. • Implementation Framework: Sri Lanka welcomed the 5-year Outcome Documents while calling for simplified reporting mechanisms, technical cooperation, and capacity-building support for affected nations with limited administrative capacity. • Context: While Sri Lanka supports the CCM framework, international reports note ongoing global use by non-signatory nations, alongside past international scrutiny over historical conflict allegations.