• SL honours UNCLOS, and cannot have different rules for different countries

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry yesterday (7) rejected reports that Sri Lanka has decided to end the moratorium on foreign scientific research survey (MSR) vessels surveying in Sri Lankan waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone.

Foreign and local news yesterday had reported that the Minister made a statement to that effect during his official visit to Japan last week.

However, responding to a question by The Daily Morning Minister Sabry stated that reports have misquoted the essence of what he said in an interview, and that no decision has been made by the Government regarding the moratorium, which was introduced for 2024. He added that he stated in the interview that there may be a possibility of lifting it.

“This is misquoting the essence of it. Right now we have a moratorium till the end of the year. We will assess the situation at the end of the year and then decide whether to continue the moratorium or lift it, in that there is a possibility of lifting it.  However, it all depends on us and our institutions building sovereign capacity for such surveys,” Sabry told The Daily Morning.

The Foreign Minister stated: “Of course as a nation that aspires to become a regional and global maritime hub, we are duty bound to respect and recognise our obligations in terms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to provide facilities for port call and replenishment. Naturally, being a neutral and non-aligned country we cannot have different rules for different countries, and thus China will also have equal opportunities just like any other country”

When asked about Japanese plans to donate a vessel capable of hydrographic research to Sri Lanka, which was announced during Minister Saby’s counterpart, Yōko Kamikawa’s recent visit to Colombo, the Foreign Minister said, that the matter is progressing quickly and that Japan is coordinating the donation with the Sri Lankan Government and was in discussion with the Ministry of Defence on to the topic as well.  

In December 2023, Sri Lanka decided to enforce a year-long moratorium on foreign scientific research survey (MSR) vessels surveying in Sri Lankan waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone, following a spate of visits by Chinese MSR’s and concerns raised by India, the United States and others regarding why the Chinese were surveying the Sri Lankan EEZ and who had control over the data collected, and potential surveillance of Indian missile and space missions by Chinese State agencies.  Sri Lanka also reviewed its Standard Operational Procedure to provide diplomatic clearance to warships, aircraft and such survey vessels in November of 2023. Under the new guidelines, MSR’s can and have docked in Sri Lanka ports for replenishment. However, none were permitted to carry out surveys in Sri Lankan waters or in the EEZ. The Sri Lankan Government also established a high-powered committee under the Ministry of Defence to review many MOU between foreign entities and Sri Lankan state institutions and academia, for national compliance with national interest. Also in mid-2023, with heightened geo-political strain due to the multiple visits by Chinese MSRs, the Sri Lankan Government decided to build sovereign capacity for Hydrographic research, reaching out to several countries for assistance. India, Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom are in discussions with Sri Lanka to aid in the effort. Sri Lanka also enacted new laws, and established a National Hydrographic Office under the Ministry of Defence to further the national goal.