A regional meeting of representatives of National Authorities and Parliaments in Asia was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 25 and 26 August 2008. The meeting attracted 65 participants, including 26 parliamentarians and 15 National Authority representatives from 20 States Parties.
The meeting focussed on issues related to the adoption of comprehensive national legislation to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including the rights and obligations of States Parties under the CWC and the legal basis for the control of toxic chemicals and combating illicit trafficking.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka, inaugurated the regional meeting and in his keynote address said that “chemical weapons are weapons of terrorism. There are no peaceful uses of chemical weapons. Hence it is surely related to the menace of terrorism.” He added that “as far as the government is aware there are no chemical weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction in Sri Lanka.”
During the discussions, participants reiterated the importance for all States Parties to adopt the necessary legal measures expeditiously in order to prosecute any violation of the Convention. Parliamentarians from States Parties that had yet to complete their national implementing measures reiterated their commitment to do so. The participants also reaffirmed the need for continued parliamentary oversight of the national implementation of the Convention and welcomed the process of interaction between the parliamentarians and the OPCW.
The programme for the meeting concluded with a visit to the Sri Lankan Parliament, during which the Speaker of the National Assembly met with the participants.
The meeting was organised with funds provided by the European Union under its 2007 Joint Action with the OPCW.