Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-06-05

Ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

- The Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 1996‑09‑10. By the said Agreement, the Member States have agreed to prohibit “any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. So far, 186 countries have signed the said treaty whereas 177 countries have ratified the same. Sri Lanka has signed the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty on 1996‑10‑24. Currently, Sri Lanka cooperates with the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity building, data and information sharing. Sri Lanka's ratification of the said Treaty will recognize the diplomatic role of Sri Lanka as an active proponent of international peace and security in a nuclear weapons free world and enable to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes benefiting many developing countries including Sri Lanka such as tsunami warning and climate change and earth studies. As such, the proposal made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to ratify the said Treaty and take necessary action to draft legislation to enforce the provisions of the said Treaty.