Sri Lanka ratifies CTBT reinforcing commitment to nuclear disarmament

Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry 

In a resounding affirmation of its dedication to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Sri Lanka announced its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) during a recent press briefing on the EU Article 14 Conference of the CTBT’s Comprehensive Nuclear Ban Test Treaty.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry who played a pivotal role in this momentous announcement emphasised that Sri Lanka’s ratification of the CTBT aligns seamlessly with the nation’s longstanding policy on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. 

This move solidified Sri Lanka’s position as one of the initial signatories of the CTBT in October 1996, a mere days after the treaty’s unveiling. Sri Lanka was the 13th country to enter into a facility agreement with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in 1996, leading to the establishment of an auxiliary seismic station in Pallekale, Kandy.

During the briefing, Sri Lanka paid tribute to the tireless efforts of CTBTO Executive Director Floyd and the entire CTBTO team for their unwavering dedication to realising the treaty’s entry into force. The global surge in State parties joining the treaty underscores the international commitment to nuclear disarmament.

Sri Lanka has been an ardent supporter of the CTBTO’s work since the treaty’s inception in 1996, including close collaboration with the On-Site Inspection (OSI) division. It is with pride that Sri Lanka announces its intention to host the next OSI Integrated Field Exercise in 2025, uniting 180 technical experts and participants from around the world. This exercise stands as a pivotal opportunity to enhance the CTBTO’s OSI capabilities and identify areas for further refinement.

Acknowledging the 26th anniversary of the treaty this year, Sri Lanka emphasised its pivotal role as a cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. The CTBT serves as a potent collective confidence-building measure against nuclear testing, effectively deterring the nuclear arms race during the Cold War era. Moreover, the treaty’s verification regime has established a robust international monitoring system and an international data centre, with applications extending beyond nuclear disarmament to civilian and scientific realms.

In light of escalating geopolitical tensions and recent challenges at the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, Sri Lanka underscored the CTBT’s vital role in upholding global security. The country urged all States, particularly those whose ratification is pivotal for the treaty’s entry into force, to take concrete steps towards ratification.

The support for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament remains steadfast, with the recent deposit of Sri Lanka’s instrument of accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TNPNW) further underscoring its commitment to a nuclear-free world.

Sri Lanka’s ratification of the CTBT stands as a beacon of its enduring dedication to global peace and security through nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.