Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, at the invitation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna delivered the keynote speech at the High-Level Opening segment of the 3rd CTBTO Science Diplomacy Symposium held in Vienna, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said .

Other speakers at the High-Level segment included Executive Secretary of the CTBTO Dr Robert Floyd, President of the UNGA Csaba Korosi, USG and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu and Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong. In her keynote address, Foreign Secretary Wijewardane appreciated the achievements of the CTBT in advancing towards a world free of nuclear weapons testing, pending entry into force of the treaty. Secretary Wijewardane also highlighted Sri Lanka’s commitment to a world free of nuclear weapon tests as an early signatory to the CTBT since 1996.

Sri Lanka also participates in the CTBT’s verification regime through the Facility Agreement with the auxiliary seismological station at Pallekelle.

The symposium was attended by over 250 participants from around 80 countries including scientists, experts, civil society and diplomats. The Sri Lanka delegation to the symposium included Ambassador and Permanent representative of Sri Lanka in Vienna Majintha Jayesinghe and the Mission staff, and representation from the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, Sri Lanka. On the sidelines of the symposium, the Foreign Secretary met Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Dr. Robert Floyd and discussed matters of mutual interest in relation to the treaty.Foreign Secretary Wijewardane also met Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi and expressed appreciation for IAEA’s direct technical support, research and development, capacity building and expertise provided to Sri Lanka under the Technical Cooperation Programme for 2019-2025. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Vienna Majintha Jayesinghe and the Mission staff were associated with the meetings.