Speaker of Sri Lankan Parliament visits Hiroshima Peace Park, speaks positively about ratifying nuclear weapons ban treaty
Mar. 2, 2018
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
On March 1, Karu Jayasuriya, 77, the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, paid a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and learned about the damage caused by the atomic bombing. Mr. Jayasuriya showed a positive attitude toward working for the country’s ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations in July of last year.
Mr. Jayasuriya toured the Peace Memorial Museum guided by Kenji Shiga, the director of the museum. He looked at such exhibits as a computer graphics display that depicts the devastating damage the atomic bomb caused to the city and victims’ belongings. Mr. Jayasuriya then laid a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. Earlier, he met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at City Hall. Mr. Matsui asked for his support in facilitating Sri Lanka’s ratification of the nuclear weapons ban treaty.
After his tour of the museum, Mr. Jayasuriya told reporters that what happened on August 6, 1945 must never be repeated.
Sri Lanka approved the treaty when it was adopted, but its government has not yet signed or ratified it. The ratification of the treaty requires the approval of the Parliament. Referring to the ratification of the treaty, Mr. Jayasuriya said that he would support the process and stay in step with the United Nations.
Mr. Jayasuriya arrived in Japan on February 26 at the invitation of the Upper House of the Japanese Diet. His visit to Hiroshima was arranged at his request.
(Originally published on March 2, 2018)
On March 1, Karu Jayasuriya, 77, the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, paid a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and learned about the damage caused by the atomic bombing. Mr. Jayasuriya showed a positive attitude toward working for the country’s ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations in July of last year.
Mr. Jayasuriya toured the Peace Memorial Museum guided by Kenji Shiga, the director of the museum. He looked at such exhibits as a computer graphics display that depicts the devastating damage the atomic bomb caused to the city and victims’ belongings. Mr. Jayasuriya then laid a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. Earlier, he met with Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at City Hall. Mr. Matsui asked for his support in facilitating Sri Lanka’s ratification of the nuclear weapons ban treaty.
After his tour of the museum, Mr. Jayasuriya told reporters that what happened on August 6, 1945 must never be repeated.
Sri Lanka approved the treaty when it was adopted, but its government has not yet signed or ratified it. The ratification of the treaty requires the approval of the Parliament. Referring to the ratification of the treaty, Mr. Jayasuriya said that he would support the process and stay in step with the United Nations.
Mr. Jayasuriya arrived in Japan on February 26 at the invitation of the Upper House of the Japanese Diet. His visit to Hiroshima was arranged at his request.
(Originally published on March 2, 2018)
