Sri Lanka has been elected as one of the thirty-one members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The election, held by the UN General Assembly, saw Sri Lanka garner an impressive 177 votes, marking it as the second highest within the Asia Pacific Group and overall among the elected members.
Competing for a seat from the Asia Pacific Group, Sri Lanka joins other nations such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea in this prestigious body. Sri Lanka’s term will span six years, starting in January 2025.
Established in 1966 and headquartered in Vienna, UNCITRAL serves as a key legal institution in international trade, focusing on eliminating trade barriers and harmonizing trade laws. The organization also offers technical assistance to member states. Sri Lanka has previously benefited from UNCITRAL’s model laws, particularly in enhancing its trade and investment legislation, including the Sri Lanka Arbitration Act and the Electronic Transaction Act. Additionally, Sri Lanka has served on UNCITRAL in previous terms from 2004 to 2007 and from 2016 to 2022.
