Sri Lanka enforces UN resolution against nuclear and biological weapons

APD NEWS

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**By APD Writer Easwaran **

COLOMBO, Oct. 8 (APD) – Sri Lanka has enforced a UN resolution against the use of nuclear chemical and biological weapons, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

A gazette has been issued by the Foreign Ministry stating that the United Nations Security Council resolution which set out wide-ranging requirements for the prevention of proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, impose upon member States of the United Nations a series of obligations to take appropriate legal measures to prohibit any natural or legal person, group or entity acting without the lawful authority of any member State to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, as well as attempts to engage in any of the foregoing activities, participate in them as an accomplice, assist, or finance them.

Further, member States are requiring to establish domestic controls to prevent the proliferation of these weapons and means of delivery, including by establishing appropriate controls over related materials.

As a result any person who or group or entity which manufactures, acquires, possesses, develops, transports, transfers or uses nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery within Sri Lanka, will be seen as committing an offence under these regulations and shall on conviction by the High Court, be liable to imprisonment of either description for a period not exceeding twenty years or a fine not exceeding five million rupees or both such fine and imprisonment.

Sri Lanka also noted that any person who, for the peaceful purposes, deals with nuclear, chemical and biological weapon related materials must comply with and maintain the minimum accounting, and securing measures in production, use, storage and transport and minimum physical protection measures in accordance with the relevant written law.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)