UN research vessel visit not barred, but no green light for research yet – Minister
- CNL Reporter
- June 20, 2025
- News
- UN
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While asserting that there is no restriction on the UN research vessel visiting Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath yesterday clarified that no final decision has been made regarding granting permission to carry out marine research in Sri Lankan waters.
He explained that, as a general policy, no decision can be made until the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels are finalized — a requirement that applies uniformly to all such vessels.
“In this particular case, a final decision is still pending,” he said.
In May, the Sri Lankan government formally cancelled a request by the UN to allow its research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen (F. Nansen), a state-of-the-art marine survey ship, to conduct research in local waters, citing delays in SOP finalization.
Accordingly, a document sent to the Sri Lankan government by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombo on June 12 stated that, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had received a letter from the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources dated May 19, 2025, informing the cancellation of the visit. The UN warned that the decision could result in losses exceeding $1 million, hinder Green Climate Fund programmes dependent on the vessel’s data, and delay any future visits until after 2030.
Meanwhile, informed sources said the Dr Fridtjof Nansen vessel is currently docked in Mauritius, with Sri Lankan scientists expected to board the vessel before it sails to Colombo. However, sources also revealed that the vessel will only dock in Sri Lanka for refuelling or other logistical requirements, as it has not received permission to conduct research. Bangladeshi scientists are expected to join the vessel in Colombo before it sails to Bangladesh for the next phase of its mission.
