Indo-Lankan cooperation will take into account geopolitical factors
P.K.Balachandran
Colombo, June 24 – Recently, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the UN wanted to send the State-of-the art research vessel “Dr Fridtj of Nansen” (F. Nansen) to Sri Lanka and had sought permission to carry out its mission. Way back in November 2023, Sri Lanka had requested such assistance and F.Nansen was sent in response to that.
According to the UN, the technology on board F.Nansen would have helped “uncover the dynamics of life below water, guiding decisions for responsible ocean stewardship, safeguarding fish stocks, diversifying through underutilized marine resources, fulfilling global sustainability and climate commitments under the SDGS, and maintaining and expanding export markets and preserving marine biodiversity.”
Sri Lankan fisheries experts and scientists from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency as well as officers from the Sri Lankan Navy were to be closely working with the F. Nansen technical team, in full adherence with all pertinent national legislation. All data collected would have been published only with the government’s prior clearance.
Lanka’s Dilemma
But Sri Lanka was in a quandary about allowing the UN vessel as the geopolitical situation had changed drastically between 2023 and 2025.
Sri Lanka’s efforts to host Chinese research vessels had been an irritant for regional power India and the United States. Every time, there was a Chinese research vessel waiting to come, New Delhi would raise the red flag, Colombo would dilly dally, and finally allow the ships in but only for logistical purposes not for research.
To dodge the problem and buy time, Sri Lanka announced a one-year moratorium on visits by all foreign research ships, including India’s and China’s. The moratorium ended at the end of 2024, but the Stand Operating Procedure (SOP) for giving permission to foreign research vessels had not been drawn up.
When the UN vessel sought permission to work, Colombo requested two weeks’ time to finalize the SOP. When it was still not worked out, the government rejected the UN’s request, only allowing F.Nansen to dock for logistical requirements.
The “absence” of the SOP probably enabled Colombo to reject the application of the UN application for “F.Nansen” and avoid any geopolitical complications that might arise.
UN Dismayed
A disappointed UN wrote to the government saying that the cancellation of the visit would result in direct losses of over US$ 1 million for Sri Lanka that was to accrue from the FAO. It would also reduce the efficacy of upcoming programs financed by the Green Climate Fund which would heavily rely on the data generated by F. Nansen.
The UN warned that, “If the current visit should be cancelled, another would not be feasible until after 2030. Moreover, cancelling the visit would deprive the country of critical data essential to the government’s decision making, damaging the prospects for economic development in a key sector of the economy.”
Importance of Seabed
In mankind’s relentless search for raw materials, especially minerals, seabed exploration and exploitation have come to attract much attention across the world. The sea, as such, had been neglected for too long, though it supports all life on earth, directly or indirectly.
The ocean and the various forms of life within it, are responsible for producing half of all of the world’s oxygen. They trap and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, provide food for much of the world, and are a source of ingredients for products used in medicine. For example, proteins from an ocean seabed algae were effective in slowing the spread of a virus known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
Probing the mysteries of the ocean could find new sources of sustainable energy. The World Bank has projected that extraction of critical minerals, from both land and sea, will need to increase fivefold by 2050 to meet the demand for clean energy technologies.
Sri Lanka’s Efforts
Sri Lanka has been interested in seabed exploration. It had attempted to extend its maritime limits with an eye on the hidden resources in an extended continental shelf.
In 2009, Colombo applied to extend its continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical mile limit as permitted by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In 2022, India objected to this, arguing that Sri Lanka’s claims would prejudice its rights over parts of the continental shelf. India wanted to be able to meet a growing challenge in this area from the Chinese. A decision on the continental shelf issue is still pending.
Sri Lanka has also been claiming the “Afanasy Nikitin” seamount in the Central Indian Ocean. The seamount has cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts covering a total area of 3,000 km2.
In January 2024, India too submitted an application to the International Seabed Authority (ISA) seeking permission to explore the “Afanasy Nikitin” Seamount. India wanted to bring it under its control before the Chinese got there. This matter too is pending settlement.
Tie up with India
By rejecting F.Nansen, Sri Lanka did miss a golden opportunity to avail of international expertise in ocean exploration. But all is not lost.
Regional powers, India and China are interested in exploiting the ocean for their benefit and both are offering to be an alternative provider of hydrographic services to many countries.
India has a short-term target of increasing its renewable energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030, and meeting 50% of its energy requirements from renewables by then. The long-term goal is achieving net zero emissions by 2070. To meet these targets, India will need to secure critical minerals from all possible sources, including the deep seabed.
In 2022, India’s National Institute of Ocean Technology conducted trials of its mining machine at a depth of 5,270 metres in the central Indian Ocean basin and collected some polymetallic nodules from the seafloor that are rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper.
The National Institute of Ocean Technology is designing and developing the 4th Generation deep-ocean human scientific submersible named “Matsya-6000,” as part of the Samudrayan project. This cutting-edge submersible is engineered to accommodate three humans within its compact 2.1 meter diameter spherical hull, marking a significant milestone in India’s ocean exploration capabilities.
Existing Indo-Lankan Cooperation
Singapore-based scholar Chulani Attananake points out in a piece in East Asia Forum that India and Sri Lanka have built a strong maritime relationship. They have signed agreements to enhance maritime security, including a US$6 million grant for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. This builds on the existing Indo-Lankan maritime collaboration, including military exercises, capacity building initiatives and also a tripartite maritime cooperation pact with the Maldives.
“These efforts have proven effective in several instances. During Cyclone Ockhi in 2017, India’s Coast Guard and Navy played a crucial role in rescuing Sri Lankan fishermen stranded at sea. In 2021, India provided vital assistance in firefighting and containment during the X-Press Pearl disaster off Sri Lanka’s coast,” Attanayake says.
China is also offering to be an alternative provider of hydrographic services to many countries. Chinese agencies operate more than 30 oceanographic surveillance and research vessels. But China’s forays into Sri Lanka waters are seen by India as a security threat.
It has been suggested by some, that given the growing geopolitical complications, Sri Lanka could consider working with India rather than China in ocean exploration and exploitation, including the exploitation of the Afanasy Nikitin seamount.
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