Sri Lanka lobbies UN for territorial sea expansion

• Successfully establishes outer edge of continental shelf 
• In May 2009, Sri Lanka submitted data to the UN Commission
• Initiates discussion with the Maldives to avoid overlapping claims
• The continental shelf contains rich mineral deposits, oil, gas, and fisheries

By Kelum Bandara 

Sri Lanka is successfully lobbying for the increase of the  size of its Exclusive Economic Zone or the country’s territorial sea in  cooperation with the Maldives avoiding any conflict between the two  sides on overlapping claims, the Daily Mirror learns.   

The ‘Exclusive Economic Zone’ is an area of the ocean,  generally extending 200 nautical miles (230 miles) beyond a nation’s  territorial sea, within which a coastal nation has jurisdiction over  both living and non-living resources.  

 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. 

 
The continental shelf is one of the maritime zones which  consist of numerous rich mineral deposits, oil, gas and fisheries. The  commercial value attached to this particular zone is gigantic. In  consequence, every State tries to extend their continental margin in  order to exploit and grab as much as it can make out of it.  

According to UN laws, a country can have continental shelf  rights up to 350 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500 metre depth, which is  higher.  

The Daily Mirror learns that there are overlapping claims in the extension of the continental shelf with the Maldives.   

During bilateral talks with Maldivian Foreign Affairs  Minister Moosa Zameer, the Sri Lankan delegation discussed the matter.  It is learnt that the two sides decided to collaborate with each other  to avoid any conflict over areas of overlapping.