Gazettes tabled on North Korea and nuclear weapons

The Government tabled two Extraordinary Gazettes yesterday in Parliament prohibiting the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons in Sri Lanka and on sanctions imposed on North Korea.

Gazette Extraordinary No. 2039/31 of 6 October 2017 lists the regulations made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Section 2 of the United Nations Act, No. 45 of 1968, with regard to the sanctions relating to the proliferation of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. As per the regulations, a person who manufactures, acquires, possesses, develops, transports, transfers or uses nuclear, chemical or biological weapons will be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or a fine not exceeding Rs. 5 million or both after conviction by the High Court.Gazette Extraordinary No. 2039/32 of 6 October 2017, lists the regulations made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Section 2 of the United Nations Act, No. 45 of 1968, with regard to the sanctions in relation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. According to the regulations in the Gazette Extraordinary, Sri Lankans are prohibited, both on the island as well as from abroad, from providing or receiving assets, financial services, technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, production, possession, acquisition, maintenance, stockpiling, storage, transportation, transfer or use of any items related to the nuclear program to any person in North Korea. These sanctions apply to North Korea until it suspends all activities related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and abandons all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, which constitute a threat to international peace and security. (AH)