Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the country has been elected as one of the thirty-one (31) members of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) by the UN General Assembly on November 20, 2024.
In a statement, the Ministry highlighted that Sri Lanka competed for a seat from the Asia-Pacific Group, securing 177 votes, the second-highest number of votes in the group and overall, among the 31 members elected.
Other Asia-Pacific countries elected to UNCITRAL include Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
Sri Lanka will serve a six-year term starting in January 2025, the Ministry added.
Established in 1966 and headquartered in Vienna, UNCITRAL is the key legal body overseeing international trade law. Its mandate includes eliminating barriers to trade and harmonizing trade laws across countries. Additionally, UNCITRAL provides technical assistance to member states. Sri Lanka has benefited from model laws provided by UNCITRAL, including the Sri Lanka Arbitration Act and the Electronic Transaction Act, both of which facilitate trade and investment.
Sri Lanka has previously served as a member of UNCITRAL from 2004 to 2007 and from 2016 to 2022.
