SOURCE: AFI
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka has addressed recent media reports concerning the country’s submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UNCLCS) in New York, and matters related to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) in Jamaica regarding exploration activities at the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount.
In October 2016, the UNCLCS appointed a subcommission to review Sri Lanka’s submission. Several rounds of discussions between the subcommission and the Sri Lankan delegation have taken place. However, the UNCLCS has yet to make recommendations regarding Sri Lanka’s submission. The consideration of this submission is currently on hold due to a request made by India to the UNCLCS concerning the area claimed by Sri Lanka. This issue is being addressed through diplomatic channels.
In a related development, India has submitted an application to the ISBA, located in Kingston, Jamaica, seeking approval for a plan of work to explore cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts at the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount. The ISBA is the authority established to review and approve such applications pursuant to Part XI Section 4 of the UNCLOS.
Since the area for cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust exploration lies within the area claimed by Sri Lanka under its continental shelf submission, Sri Lanka has notified the ISBA of these considerations and requested that the matter be withheld until final recommendations are made on Sri Lanka’s submission through the UNCLCS process. The ISBA is adhering to the applicable procedures, and the matter remains ongoing.
Both issues are currently under consideration by the UNCLCS and the ISBA, two separate UN entities responsible for implementing the respective provisions of the UNCLOS. Public speculation regarding the ceding of Sri Lanka’s sovereign rights related to these matters is not based on factual information.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures that it continues to actively pursue these matters through appropriate diplomatic channels to safeguard Sri Lanka’s sovereign rights and interests.