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S ri L anka
Project:
The Delimitation of the Outer Edge of the Continental Country facts:
Margin of Sri Lanka under the United Nations Convention Official Name:
on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Democratic Socialist
Republic of Sri Lanka
Cooperating institution:
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MF&AR). High Level Task Force Capital:
appointed by the Government to manage and execute the project which is Colombo; Sri Jayewardenepura
located at National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) Kotte is the legislative capital

Goal: Chief of state:

to assist Sri Lanka to delineate the Outer Edge of the Continental Margin President Mahinda Rajapakse
of Sri Lanka in terms of the UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). (since 19 November 2005);
the president is considered
Objective: both the chief of state and
to conduct a seabed survey and aquire seismic and other geographical data head of government
pertaining to the continental margin enabling Sri Lanka to submit documentation
to the United Nations Commission on the limits of the continental shelf. Population:
20 222 240 (2006)
Project period:
10.2.2004 - 31.12.2008 Petroleum sector, key figures:
No oil or gas production
Total budget:
NOK 37 million Organisation of the sector:
Ministry of Power and Energy
Programme
The programme consists of the following elements: Ministry of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources
1. A desktop study of the outer edge of the continental margin of Sri Lanka
with focus on data required and the data available in the public domain. National Aquatic Resources
2. Establishing a National Project (DEOCOM) and associated infrastructure Research and development
to manage data acquisition, processing and interpretation, as well as Agency (NARA)
the preparation of the final submission of the outer limits of the
continental shelf of Sri Lanka to the UN Commission on the Limits
of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
3. Planning and executing activities to acquire necessary additional data
4. Training of necessary Sri Lanka scientific and technical staff

Contact
DEOCOM: Dr. N. P. Wijayananda wijayananda@sltnet.lk
NPD: Mr. Harald Brekke and Mr Morten Sand
harald.brekke@npd.no morten.sand@npd.no

Cooperating institutions in Norway

NORAD

Brief history of the project

The project was planned for start up in 2004, but the work on contractual
arrangements took more time than expected and only some procurement
work regarding the resident advisor commenced in 2004.
The resident advisor took up his position with DEOCOM in 2005. NPD is
the contractual partner for the advisor. A tender process for acquisition of
seismic data was initiated and finalized during the autumn of 2005.

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6.13
Due to an increase in the global rates for this kind Plans 2007
of seismic services, it became necessary to apply to • Advice and support during the ongoing contract
NORAD for additional funding in the form of mixed process for acquisition of seismic data
credits to the amount of USD 2 mill. • Supervision of the data collection, when it
starts, hopefully in May
Activities in 2006 • Extension of contract for resident advisor
• GGS was awarded the contract for acquisition of • Advice to the DEOCOM project in Colombo
seismic data, making use of the Russian vessel regarding the drafting of the Sri Lanka claim to
Mezen. Due to a legal claim against the vessel the United Nations Commission on the limits of
the acquisition of data failed. the continental shelf
• A new bidding round for procurement of seismic
services was arranged in the period july-
september 2006. The Belgian company GEMS was
chosen by the Sri Lankan government as winner
of the assignment. Unforeseen problems have so
far hindered finalization of the contract between
the parties regarding the acquisition.

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