Sri Lanka has formally acceded to the UN’s BBNJ Agreement on marine biodiversity, becoming the 58th signatory on September 16.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake attended the high-level ceremony in New York on the 25th, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders.

The pact, signed by 60 countries after two decades of negotiations, covers two-thirds of the world’s oceans and will take effect on 17 January, 2026.

It aims to protect marine biodiversity and ensure fair sharing of ocean resources beyond national jurisdictions.