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NAVSTRAT-2030 NAVSTRAT-2030

Figure 1.2 Figure 1.3
Continental Shelf Claim forwarded to CLCS by Sri Lanka
Maritime Search and Rescue Region of Sri Lanka

The total area of the Continental Shelf (CS) occupies approximately 7% of the total area of the
oceans of the world, but their financial significance is expressively greater. Therefore, CS is of
national importance not only geographically, but also in the social, legal and financial arena. Sri
Lanka forwarded the submission to extend the CS beyond 200nm in accordance with Article 76
and Statement of Understanding under Annex II of the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS) in the year 2009. If Sri Lanka secures its claim, it would give Sri Lanka a sea
area nearly 24 times as large as the land area by 2025 which has sovereign rights for the purpose
of exploring CS and exploiting its natural resources. This delimited CS will provide the ability to
exploit rich natural resources and include mineral and other non-living resources of the seabed and
subsoil together with living organisms belonging to sedentary species. Main natural resources
include hydrocarbons, oil, gas and minerals such as placer minerals and poly-metallic nodules
(Manganese etc.) which will provide a large share of the future metal needs of the world. Sri
Lanka’s claim for CS forwarded to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) The Concept of Maritime Power
is shown in Figure 1.3. Maritime power is the ability of a nation to exploit the oceans to its advantage. However, maritime
power not only of the ability to exploit the oceans for commercial purposes, but it strengthens to
protect this ability from interference. It also implies the ability of a nation to influence others in
peace and impose its will in war. Admiral Alfred Mahan listed six fundamental elements of sea
power; geographical position, physical conformation, extent of territory, size of population,
character of the people and character of government.

Sri Lanka will be heavily dependent on the maritime domain in the future. Therefore, surrounding
oceans must be protected, monitored and regulated to establish a competitive and unique maritime
hub in the region. It is in this context, SLN has a huge role to play in order to face the new and
existing maritime challenges and to improve maritime security and economic progress in the
country.

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