Are foreign research vessels to be banned from operating in Sri Lankan waters?

The decision was taken in a bid to prevent Chinese 'research-cum-spy' ships from docking at Lankan ports a top Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Morning quoted a government source. "The government is considering a year-long moratorium on granting permission for foreign research vessels to conduct surveys in Sri Lankan waters or her exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," a senior Lankan minister told the Lankan daily. 

"The arrival of these ships creates serious diplomatic tensions, and it is an election year (both in India and Sri Lanka). Such ship visits can be highly disruptive for the region and Sri Lanka, because of the pressure the government may come under. So, a moratorium, for one year or perhaps more is being considered," the minister said.

The movesassumes political significance when China wanted to dock its Marine scientific research (MSR) vessel, the Xiang Yang Hong 3, on Sri Lankan ports by early 2024, the report said.

Sources said it is not yet the official decision only an official leak to test waters. It remains to be seen if the Sri Lankan government will stick to the reportedmove since Colombo adopted similar conciliatory stance towards India, before another Chinese spy ship was allowed to be berthed at Colombo port earlier this year. Sri Lankan government would take into consideration several factors and adopt the one that will be beneficial to the island government. It will continue to play the country’s geo political location card that no nation can afford to antognize.

According to the country’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka would use next 12 months to develop its own marine research capabilities so that it can take part in future foreign research expeditions as an equal partner.“That is for us to do some capacity development so that we can participate in such research activities as equal partners,” he was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror, a Lankan news outlet.

Earlier in October this year, Sri Lanka had allowed a Chinese survey and research vessel Shi Yan 6 to dock at one of its ports and conduct its operations.

China exploits these research vessels, often referred to as spy ships in international media, to not only collect information about vital strategic assets in southern India but also to gather information about ecological and mineral treasures in the Gulf of Mannar.