The Japanese Government yesterday (4) announced that it would offer Sri Lanka a vessel equipped for underwater surveys, which would aid in capacity-building to conduct hydrographic research and chart Sri Lanka’s maritime domain.

The announcement was made by visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa last afternoon during a meeting with her counterpart, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.

During her speech, the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister stated: “Japan and Sri Lanka are both island nations surrounded by the sea. Japan intends to further strengthen cooperation with Sri Lanka in the maritime domain in order to realise a ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific. In this regard, based on a request from Sri Lanka, I have conveyed to Minister Sabry that Japan will offer a vessel equipped with sonar to be used for compiling maritime charts.”

The announcement comes in the wake of Sri Lanka’s pursuit to improve its sovereign capacity for marine research in terms of hydrography and oceanography, following a spate of visits by Chinese Marine Scientific Research (MSR) vessels to Sri Lankan waters for joint surveys, which caused diplomatic tension with India, the US, and other nations that are concerned about Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean.

Concerns have been raised on who has control and access to the data generated from such surveys, due to the possible military application which can be derived from them.   

It is learnt that the Government had decided to robustly pursue sovereign capacity building for hydrography and marine science research since early 2023. The Sunday Morning earlier reported that several countries were in discussion to assist Sri Lanka in capacity building aimed at improving the island’s maritime mapping and domain awareness.

Responding to a question, State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon acknowledged that Sri Lanka had been in discussion with Japan on capacity-building since last year and thanked the Japanese Government for its generous assistance.

“Sri Lanka has prioritised its sovereign capacity-building for hydrography and marine science. Following a study of our requirement, President Wickremesinghe requested assistance from Japan during the Japanese Foreign Minister’s visit last July. We are thankful for Japan’s generous assistance to Sri Lanka in this matter,” Tennakoon told The Sunday Morning, adding that, as an island nation, Sri Lanka must have better capacity to survey its waters, conduct research, and have better situational awareness of its maritime domain. 

As of now, Sri Lanka lacks modern seagoing hydrographic and oceanographic capacity and lacks a suitably-equipped vessel capable of engaging in such missions.