INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations has drawn its attention to the affairs related to the National Oceanic Affairs
Committee Secretariat, an agency affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The Committee to which met on 09 January 2024 chaired by
Member of Parliament Akila Ellawala discussed the role of the National Oceanic Affairs Committee Secretariat, challenges faced and future
plans, the Parliamentary Communications Department said in a statement.The current Chairman of the secretariat, Dr
Vijayananda, addressing the meeting, stated that there is a possibility of using a sea area of 250 nautical miles beyond the exclusive
Nations Charter on the Law of the Sea, the agreement of the regional countries is necessary, so the Chairman pointed out that negotiations
with other regional countries, including India, are ongoing
It was also discussed that this ocean region is very important for Sri Lanka due to fuel exploration and biodiversity, the statement
mentioned.Accordingly, the Committee Chair pointed out the need to speed up these activities in coordination with the Ministry of Defense
and said that he expects to make a request to the minister in charge of the subject.Committee members and Members of Parliament Madhura
Muszhaaraff, officials representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the Committee meeting held, according to the
Parliamentary Communications Department.
