Presidential intervention clears permission for UN-mandated research vessel into SL waters

By Kelum Bandara

Despite initial rejection, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s intervention resulted in the UN-mandated research vessel being granted permission to arrive in Sri Lanka and carry out its activities in territorial waters here.

The vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen will now carry out research work, such as assessment of fish stocks in Sri Lankan waters, between August 15 and 20.

Sri Lanka initially rejected the UN request to allow a research vessel into its waters to assess the long-term food security in Sri Lankan seas, citing delays in finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is the operator of the vessel, received a letter dated May 19, 2025, from the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, cancelling Dr. Fridtjof Nansen’s visit pending the development of standard operating procedures for foreign research vessels.

The document stated that it “could result in over $1 million in losses, undermine Green Climate Fund programmes relying on the vessel’s data, and delay any future visit until after 2030.”

However, Daily Mirror learns that the President was briefed by the relevant authorities on the importance of the visit of such an UN-mandated research vessel at this hour. Despite the absence of SOPs developed to regulate research work in Sri Lankan waters by foreign vessels, the President has decided to grant approval for the UN- mandated ship, considering its national significance.

Sri Lanka has decided to introduce SOPs for such vessels following controversy over the permission granted to Chinese research vessels. India protested the presence of Chinese research vessels in Sri Lankan waters, citing security concerns. The previous government even imposed a moratorium for one year. It lapsed at the end of last year. The new government did not extend it. The government, with the involvement of all the stakeholders, is now in the process of developing SOPs.