Sri Lanka grants access to FAO research vessel

Colombo, June 23 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has granted clearance for a research vessel operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to conduct studies in the country’s waters from August 15 to 20, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said.

Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is a research vessel that conducts surveys, collecting vital data on fish stocks, biodiversity, and oceanographic conditions. It sought to carry out research activities in Sri Lankan waters, but the government earlier has denied access for it in the absence of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels.