Sri Lanka at the senior management of the OPCW in The Hague

(March 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Sri Lanka Ambassador to The Netherlands and Permanent Representatives to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague Mrs. Grace A Asirwatham has been appointed as the Deputy Director General of the OPCW. An official announcement to this effect was made by  Mr. Ahmet Uzumcu, Director General of the OPCW on 15th February, 2011, during the 63rd Session of the Executive Council. Ambassador Asirwatham’s appointment was welcomed with approbation by the members to the Executive Council.

Ambassador Asirwatham will be succeeding Dr. John Freeman from the United Kingdom, who will be leaving the Organization shortly after a stint of fours years as the Deputy Director General.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was created in May 1997 as the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in The Hague. The CWC is a global disarmament agreement that bans the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons, and provides for the destruction of existing chemical weapons stockpiles and related facilities within a specified time frame. Currently 188 countries are States Parties to the CWC.

Sri Lanka signed and ratified the CWC on 14th January 1993 and 19th August 1994 respectively. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is the National Authority responsible for the implementation of the CWC in Sri Lanka which also functions as the lead agency in case of chemical emergencies in the country.