Sri Lanka high level engagement

In the context of the European Union Council Decision 2017/1428, Special Envoy of the Convention HRH Prince Mired Raad Zeid of Jordan visited Sri Lanka from 5-7 March 2018, engaging with top Sri Lanka officials on Sri Lanka's much awaited role in promoting the Convention and its norms.

During the visit, Prince Mired met with the Honourable President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana, and Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Affairs Deva Manoharan Swaminathan. HRH also called on the President, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and on the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Prasad Kariyawasam, to promote the Convention and its norms among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member States that have not yet joined the Convention.

In addition, Prince Mired visited a mine clearance site in the northern region, and a rehabilitation centre for persons with disabilities including landmine survivors.

HRH also visited with the UN Resident and UN Coordination Group in Colombo including a number of Ambassadors and international organisation representatives.

• Press Release by Sri Lanka's MFA | AP Mine Ban Convention Special Envoy to visit Sri Lanka
• Press Release | Convention Special Envoy welcomes Sri Lanka's role in fostering treaty norm in South Asia
• Photos of the visit
• Download Prince Mired's statement on Sri Lanka's opportunities to promote the Convention in South Asia
• Further below wiew/listen to Prince Mired's statement on Sri Lanka's opportunity for a leadership role on universalization in South Asia, and subsequent interview at the LKI think tank in Colombo (or view in separate browser here).

In early March, Prince Mired visited with the President of Sri Lanka, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister among other high-ranking officials. Prince Mired called on Sri Lanka to promote the Convention and its norms among all States in South Asia that have not yet joined.

On 2 March 2016, the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, H.E. Ravinatha Aryasinha announced that Sri Lanka would be acceding to the Convention, becoming the 163rd State Party.

In December 2017, Sri Lanka presented a copy of its accession instrument to the Sixteenth Meeting of States Parties in Vienna.