• UN FAO research vessel conundrum likely to feature at tomorrow’s NSC
• Cancellation of visit could cost $ 1 m for SL and future visits until after 2030

Sri Lanka finds itself at a critical juncture concerning the planned visit of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) state-of-the-art research vessel – Dr. Fridtjof Nansen. 

Delays in finalising Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels threaten to derail the vital mission, which is due to arrive on 15 July for a survey crucial for the nation’s marine health and food security. 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra declined to comment on the matter due to being overseas. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources yesterday (21) denied reports that the visit had been cancelled.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Secretary Dr. Kolitha Jinadasa said that a team had been appointed to consult on the matter and a special request has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to permit the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen to enter Sri Lankan waters on special permission pending the implementation of the SOPs. 

Dr. Jinadasa further stated that the ministry had engaged in discussions with the FAO and had conveyed that it had advocated the entry of the vessel in communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requested special permission in this regard.

Meanwhile, an official from the ministry, speaking to The Sunday Morning on conditions of anonymity, stated that the matter was likely to be raised at the forthcoming National Security Council (NSC) meeting scheduled for tomorrow (23), despite the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson stating that permission could not be granted without the finalisation of the SOPs.

The critical Dr. Fridtjof Nansen mission

The Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, a modern vessel designed for comprehensive marine ecosystem research, aims to provide updated insights into Sri Lanka’s marine resources, safeguard fish stocks, ensure food security, diversify marine resources, maintain export market access, and protect marine biodiversity. 

The survey, planned from 15 July to 20 August, would also involve collaboration with Sri Lankan fisheries experts, scientists from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), and Sri Lanka Navy officers.

While the FAO in Sri Lanka declined to issue a comment on the matter pending Foreign Ministry intervention, prior media publications indicate that the UN has warned that a cancellation would incur direct losses of over $ 1 million for Sri Lanka and delay any future visits until after 2030. The Dr. Fridtjof Nansen has previously conducted similar surveys in Sri Lanka, with the last one being in 2018.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry, PC strongly advocated for the vessel’s entry, asserting: “Yes, Sri Lanka should allow the UN FAO vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen to enter our waters and proceed with its research mission as scheduled. This is a globally respected initiative, undertaken under the UN’s auspices, to assess the sustainability of marine resources and provide invaluable data that will help us protect our fisheries and ocean ecosystems.”

Highlighting the potential repercussions of preventing the mission, Sabry warned: “If the vessel is turned away or delayed, Sri Lanka stands to lose not only over $ 1 million in direct opportunity costs, but, more importantly, our credibility and long-standing partnership with the FAO as well.

“We risk being seen as uncooperative with science-based, internationally recognised environmental assessments – something that could affect future technical assistance and multilateral cooperation.”

Sabry also shed light on the origins of the mission, stating: “It was under our Government, through collaborative discussions between the Foreign Ministry, Fisheries Ministry, and the FAO, that this mission was initiated. We formally invited the FAO and made arrangements to support its work, understanding that Sri Lanka needs accurate data to manage its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and safeguard the livelihoods of over two million people dependent on fisheries.”

Unfinalised SOPs

However, the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources has indicated that the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen’s visit might not be cancelled after all, although it is still pending the development of SOPs for foreign research vessels. 

This lack of clear SOPs stems from recent geopolitical tensions. In late 2022 and early 2023, visits by Chinese research vessels sparked concerns from India and the US, leading to a one-year moratorium on foreign research vessels being imposed by the previous Sri Lankan Government, which ended in December 2024.

While the moratorium has concluded, the Government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake decided in January to appoint a new committee, led by Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, to review existing SOPs and formulate new ones. Yet, this committee has still not been formally established, and in the interim, no foreign research vessels are being permitted.

“We are still waiting for permission from the Foreign Ministry, but we are hopeful. It was the Ministry of Fisheries that extended the invitation along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and there is also a requirement for this vessel to enter Sri Lankan waters and aid our cause. We cannot state for certain that permission will be granted, but we are extremely hopeful,” Dr. Jinadasa said.

Speaking on the matter, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Diplomacy Division Director General Thushara Rodrigo emphasised the Government’s stance: “We can’t definitively say if a decision will be finalised by 15 July. The decision rests entirely with the committee making the SOPs, its discussions, and its reviews. It’s up to the committee to establish the SOPs as we expect, and if it can be enforced before the date, then the vessel can be let in subject to those terms.”

When pressed on the Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, an initiative predetermined by the previous Government, and whether an arbitrary decision could be made to allow this specific vessel to enter, Rodrigo reiterated: “No, a decision will only be made once the SOPs are finalised. I believe that’s our current standpoint.”

Rodrigo acknowledged the financial implications of a potential cancellation. “We understand the situation and are fully aware of this vessel and the importance of its mission,” he stated. 

“The main concern is that without established SOPs, it deviates from our national policy. If we proceed informally now, it could set a precedent for future similar situations. We are more concerned with safeguarding Sri Lanka’s best interests in the long term, not just for this single case. We aim to establish a clear policy for the national interest.”

He added that he would have to consult with committee members for insight into their deadlines and preparations before providing further answers regarding the vessel’s fate.

Regarding a previously drafted set of proposals for SOPs by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Sabry, Rodrigo admitted: “I’m not aware of any previously drafted documents, but I will just check with the respective officers on that.” He confirmed that the ministry had already announced its position at the ministry level and that the Minister had also commented on the matter.

On the persistent delay in finalising the SOPs, Sabry expressed regret: “The draft SOPs were nearly finalised during our tenure, following extensive consultations to ensure that national security, sovereignty, and scientific cooperation were all respected. The delay now, unfortunately, appears to be driven more by bureaucratic indecision and political caution than by substance. It is regrettable. 

“A country like ours, heavily dependent on international goodwill and technical cooperation, should not sabotage such missions by inaction. I urge the authorities to act without further delay and uphold Sri Lanka’s commitments and interests.”

Broader implications and way forward

The delay in formulating these SOPs is not only jeopardising the crucial FAO vessel visit and the accompanying $ 1 million contribution, but also risking a significant loss of critical data for Sri Lanka’s marine sector, which is vital for decision-making in a key economic sector. 

Sri Lanka is currently navigating a delicate diplomatic balancing act, needing to manage its relationships with various international actors while also ensuring the integrity and security of its territorial waters. The absence of a transparent and codified process for foreign research vessel entry leaves the nation vulnerable to external pressures.

In essence, Sri Lanka’s inability to finalise a clear and comprehensive set of SOPs for foreign research vessels, partly due to geopolitical considerations, is directly impeding crucial scientific collaboration with the UN FAO, with potential long-term negative consequences for its marine research and economic development in the fisheries sector.