Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2019-02-26

Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) in Sri Lanka

- Sri Lanka has acceded to the convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti‑personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) in Sri Lanka and it has come into force in Sri Lanka with effect from the 01st of June 2018. In terms of article 9 of the said Convention, Sri Lanka, as a party, is bound to take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under the Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control. As such, the Attorney General has given his clearance to the draft Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman in accordance with the approval granted previously to implement the provisions of the Convention within Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Mrs.) Thalatha Atukorala, Minister of Justice & Prison Reforms, to publish the said draft Bill in the Government Gazette and subsequently, present it in Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet.