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

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Sri Lanka to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to take the necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the said agreement.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10.09.1996. By the treaty, member states agreed to ban “any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. So far, 186 countries have signed the agreement and 177 countries have ratified the agreement.

Sri Lanka signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on 24.10.1996 and is currently cooperating with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity development, data and information sharing. Sri Lanka’s ratification of the treaty would recognize Sri Lanka’s diplomatic role as an active proponent of international peace and security in a world free of nuclear weapons.

It will also enable Sri Lanka to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes such as tsunami warnings, climate change and geographical studies.