Sri Lanka’s sea bed expansion bid hits snag

Colombo, July 8 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka’s bid for the extension of its continental shelf beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone has hit a snag since India has also made overlapping claims prompting both the countries to seek bilateral engagement for the resolution of it, a top source said.

Sri Lanka submitted in May 2009 technical and scientific data and other information to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for the establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 nautical miles under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Afterwards, the Commission established a sub-commission to engage with Sri Lanka in 2016. Since then, the Sri Lankan delegation assigned to the task has held 11 rounds of talks. An informed source said Sri Lanka has successfully established the outer edge of its continental shelf to the satisfaction of the sub-commission. However, it is still pending approval by the UN Commission.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry secured Cabinet approval last year to set up the National Ocean Affairs Committee under the Ministry to work with this sub-commission.

However, India has also made overlapping claims in this regard. Minister Sabry is reported to have taken up the matter with Indian External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar during his latest visit to Sri Lanka. Dr. Jaishankar has reportedly promised to study it and look into it appropriately.

In the event of such overlapping claims by the two countries, the UN body refers the matter to be resolved bilaterally before further action .

Meanwhile, in January, India approached the Jamaica-based International Seabed Authority, seeking approval to explore the cobalt-rich Afanasy Nikitin Seamount, which is in the central Indian Ocean, east of the Maldives and about 1,350 km (850 miles) from the Indian coast.

Sri Lanka raised this matter since it lies within the region claimed by Sri Lanka in its plan for the expansion of the continental shelf expansion. It is also now pending resolution bilaterally.

Cobalt is a critical mineral widely used in electric vehicles and batteries. It is seen as a vital element in green energy transition.