Sri Lanka to lift ban on foreign research ships despite India's concerns
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Sri Lanka has announced plans to lift its ban on foreign research ships from next year, reversing an earlier decision influenced by security concerns from India and the US over the frequent docking requests from Chinese surveillance vessels.
This change was communicated by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry during his visit to NHK World Japan.
The initial ban was imposed in response to India's concerns about the increased presence of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean, which were suspected to be spy ships. Following these concerns, Sri Lanka prohibited foreign research ships from docking at its ports starting in January, with some exceptions.
Sabry clarified that Sri Lanka aims to maintain uniform rules for all countries and cannot selectively block Chinese vessels. He emphasized that Sri Lanka will not take sides in international disputes, stating that the moratorium would end in January next year, after which foreign research ships will be allowed to dock again.
Two Chinese spy ships were permitted to dock in Sri Lanka between August 2022 and November 2023. The Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in October 2023 for "geophysical scientific research" in collaboration with Sri Lanka's National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
The US had previously expressed concerns about the docking of this vessel. In August 2022, the Chinese naval vessel Yuan Wang 5 also docked at Hambantota for replenishment.
Sri Lanka, facing an unprecedented financial crisis since 2022, considers both India and China as crucial partners in its efforts to restructure its external debt. Despite the financial challenges, Sri Lanka remains strategically important in the Indian Ocean, serving as a vital stop for marine traffic between Southeast Asia and West Asia.
Additionally, Sabry expressed gratitude for Japan's plan to provide Sri Lanka with a sonar-equipped ship, which will enable the country to conduct its own surveys and gather data for commercial exploitation of its maritime resources. He stressed the importance of conducting research transparently to harness the island nation's untapped maritime potential.
