Statement by Mr. Chatura Perera, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations
NPT Review Conference 2026: Subsidiary Body II: Regional Issues, including with Respect to the Middle East and Implementation of the 1995 Middle East Resolution
05 May 2026
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Republic of Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.
The regional dimension of nuclear disarmament is a fundamental aspect of this Treaty. Nowhere is this more evident than in the continued failure to implement the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East - a resolution that formed an important part of the package of decisions that enabled the indefinite extension of the Treaty in 1995, under the presidency of renowned Sri Lankan diplomat Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala.
More than three decades later, we are still waiting. This delay is troubling. It undermines confidence in our collective commitments, affects the balance between the three pillars of the Treaty, and impacts the credibility of the NPT regime. The 1995 Resolution remains valid until its objectives are achieved and must be implemented without delay.
Sri Lanka strongly supports the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction as a priority.
We share the concern of the Non-Aligned Movement regarding the lack of progress in implementing the 2010 Action Plan on the Middle East. That plan outlined practical steps, but these have not been carried forward.
In this context, we highlight the responsibility of the co-sponsors of the 1995 Resolution to take concrete steps toward its full implementation.
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka welcomes the United Nations Conference process established by General Assembly decision 73/546 and the progress made through successive sessions. We encourage all States of the region to participate in good faith, with a view to concluding a legally binding instrument.
Until the goal of a ‘Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction’ is achieved, we emphasize the importance of universal adherence to the NPT. In this regard, we call on the only State in the region that has neither joined the Treaty nor declared its intention to do so to accede without delay and to place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards.
Mr. Chair,
The recent conflict in the region makes clear the urgency of this issue. Any suggestion of the use of nuclear weapons must be flatly rejected. The risks are clear, and the consequences would be catastrophic.
The establishment of a legally binding nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, with effective verification and the participation of all States in the region, is essential for regional stability and international peace and security.
Mr. Chair,
Sri Lanka reaffirms the broader value of nuclear-weapon-free zones as confidence-building instruments. When established through the free agreement of States in a region, these arrangements reduce tensions and strengthen international security. In our own region, the longstanding call to preserve the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace reflects this same principle - that regions should be preserved for peaceful purposes, not transformed into fields for nuclear competition.
Mr. Chair,
Progress on regional issues cannot be separated from the wider state of nuclear disarmament. If commitments are not implemented, confidence in the Treaty will continue to wane.
Sri Lanka calls for renewed political will and practical steps to advance the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
We must not delay any longer.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.