Extension of continental shelf beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone Sri Lanka, India seek to reach understanding on overlapping claims

• Sri Lanka has since held 11 rounds of talks with the sub-commission

By Kelum Bandara

Sri Lanka sought to reach an understanding with India in the resolution of overlapping claims by the two countries in the extension of the continental shelf beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone.

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. India has also made overlapping claims in this regard.
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.

During the recent visit to New Delhi, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised the need for Sri Lanka and India to hold talks and resolve it. Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath told a press conference yesterday that this matter was discussed yesterday.