Colombo, Oct 8 (newsin.asia) – The Sri Lankan government, on Friday issued tough economic sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in keeping with the United Nations regulations dealing with the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, the Sunday Times reported Sunday.
The regulations were imposed by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana.
The sanctions are in keeping with Sri Lanka’s obligation imposed upon member states of the United Nations to apply sanction measures in relation to North Korea until the country suspends all activities related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes which constitute a threat to international peace and security, a gazette notification said.
Under the terms of the regulations, the Foreign Minister will appoint a competent authority in consultation with the Defence Minister to ensure that the sanctions are imposed.
The regulations prohibit Sri Lankans here and abroad from providing public and private financial support for trade with the DPRK including the granting of export credits, guarantees or insurance to a person involved in trade with DPRK.
The competent authority appointed will also have the authority to recommend to the government the expulsion of North Korean diplomats; its government representatives, other North Korean nationals acting in a governmental or representative office capacity; foreign nationals who are working on behalf or at the direction of North Korea and other connected to North Korea.
The competent authority will also exercise enhanced vigilance over North Korean diplomatic personnel here so as to prevent such individuals from contributing to or generating revenue to North Korea’s prohibited programmes or activities, or to the evasion of sanctions.
Sri Lanka and North Korea have had diplomatic links since 1970, but both countries do not maintain resident missions.
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