Sri Lanka defends decision to enforce UN resolution on DPRK

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Oct. 9 (APD) -- Sri Lanka on Monday defended a decision taken to enforce a United Nations (UN) resolution on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana told Parliament that Sri Lanka, as a member of the UN, has an obligation to implement any UN resolution.

The opposition questioned the government's decision to enforce the UN resolution.

Marapana said that the decision to enforce the UN resolution was taken after weeks of discussions.

The Sri Lankan government, had over the weekend, enforced the UN resolution in a gazette notice related to DPRK while a separate gazette was also issued on a UN resolution related to nuclear and chemical weapons.

The gazette notice on DPRK notes that a person in Sri Lanka or a citizen of Sri Lanka outside Sri Lanka will be prohibited from supplying, selling or transfering, directly or indirectly, any item or any luxury item designated by the United Nations Security Council to any person in DPRK or any person acting on behalf of DPRK.

The gazette also says a person shall not cause or permit a vessel or an aircraft to be used for the purpose of carrying out activities specified in the resolution or for purposes of procurement of coal, iron, iron ore, copper, nickel, silver and zinc, orstatues from DPRK or by their nationals.

The Sri Lankan government also said that a person in Sri Lanka or a citizen of Sri Lanka outside Sri Lanka will be prohibited from providing or receiving assets, financial services, technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, production, possession, acquisition maintenance, stockpiling, storage, development, transportation, transfer or use of any designated item to any person in DPRK or any citizen of DPRK.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)