28/07/2023 (Agence Europe) – In a press release issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on Friday 28 July, the EU welcomed the fact that Sri Lanka had deposited its instrument of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) on 25 July. With this ratification, the total number of States that have signed and ratified the CTBT rises to 178 (186 States have signed it, including all the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council). “We continue to urge all States that have not yet done so, in particular those listed in Annex II of the Treaty, to sign and ratify the CTBT without precondition and without further delay”, the statement said. Finally, the EU looks forward to working with Sri Lanka to promote the CTBT and universal accession to the treaty, to support the international monitoring system and to participate in the scientific exchanges promoted by the CTBT organisation. (PLD)