• Ruhuna Uni. CSL-CER confirms last research collab. was in 2019 with Shi Yan 3
• Stresses on the need for Defence-Foreign Min. prior approval  

The China Sri Lanka Joint Centre for Education and Research (CSL-CER) of the University of Ruhuna said that it has so far not reached any agreement with the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan Six – which has made a request to arrive in Lankan waters but is yet to receive the relevant Government authorities’ clearance - on any matter.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (5), the CSL-CER Co-Director Prof. Disna Ratnasekera who handles the University’s research collaborations on the marine ecosystem and marine biodiversity with China, said that the University has not reached any agreement with the Chinese Government after they carried out a research collaboration with Shi Yan 3 which came to Sri Lanka in 2019.

Prof. Ratnasekera also said that neither the Centre for International Affairs (CINTA) of the University nor the Office of the University’s Vice Chancellor have been requested by any party to reach an agreement with the controversial Chinese research vessel. She noted that they carried out some researches with the Shi Yan 3 vessel, but that those were concluded since both the researchers affiliated with the University and with the research with the Shi Yan 3 are no longer in the University’s academic staff.

She also stated that no research collaboration with the Shi Yan 6 vessel has been planned and that the University has no authority to make such a decision without the permission of the Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministries.

She made these remarks when she was queried as to whether the University has decided to step away from the research programme that was to take place with the Chinese geophysical scientific research vessel Shi Yan 6.

It was earlier confirmed that the Shi Yan 6 was to dock in Sri Lanka on 25 October, however, diplomatic level clearance had not been granted by the Sri Lankan authorities even by last evening. The Shi Yan 6 was reportedly located some 474 nautical miles away from the Hambantota Port as of yesterday evening.

Previously, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) said that all the data collected by the Chinese geophysical and seismic survey vessel Shi Yan 6 will be in the possession of the NARA and that those data will be considered as a property of the Sri Lankan Government. When contacted by The Daily Morning earlier, the NARA Chairman Prof. Jayantha Wijeyaratne said: “The NARA informed them (the Chinese) that if they are collecting data in the Sri Lankan seas, we also must be given the opportunity to join it. They permitted us.” Prof. Wijeyaratne also said that the NARA will mainly focus on the research related to the quality of water, not about the seabed. 

The Chinese State broadcaster China Global Television Network calls the Shi Yan 6 a “scientific research vessel” crewed by 60 that carries out oceanography, marine geology and marine ecology tests.