On 05 May, Control Arms member Vidya Abhayagunawardena, Coordinator of the Forum on Disarmament & Development, met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and presented him with a copy of the book he produced entitled: “Why Post-War Sri Lanka Should Accede to the Arms Trade Treaty”. Vidya discussed the importance of Sri Lanka’s accession to the ATT with President Maithripala, citing two previous statements the President made in 2017, one on the importance of bringing firearms producers to the negotiating table and the need for a world-free of armed conflicts, and another on how the arms trade hinders development.

Abhayagunawardena said:

“Sri Lanka is one of the countries in the world which suffered heavily due to the unregulated arms industry. The 30-year war in Sri Lanka tells the world of the importance of having a regulated arms industry.”

Read Abhayagunawardena’s full article “Arms Trade Treaty in post-war Sri Lanka” for additional information.

The Control Arms #SprintTo100 campaign aims to see 100 States Parties to the ATT by the time of the 2018 Conference of States Parties.

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