Government to appoint committee to draft national policy on research vessels: Foreign Minister

Colombo, December 20 (Daily Mirror)-  The government is to appoint a special committee to prepare a policy framework on foreign research vessels entering Sri Lankan waters, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said today.

He told a news conference at the Government Information Department that the government's stance on foreign vessels is that Sri Lanka's national secuirty must be the topmost priority and that no action detrimental to national security will be taken.

The Minister said the committee will present a report on national policy framework which includes fundemental criteria that foreign research vessels and all other vessels entering Sri Lankan waters must follow.

He said future actions on research vessels will be taken based on the national policy framework.