French support to establish satellite-based oil spill monitoring service in Sri Lanka

• Cabinet clears to ink MoU with French Govt. to facilitate implementing pilot project

The Cabinet of Ministers agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French Government to protect the marine ecosystem by establishing a satellite-based oil spill monitoring service.

The move follows the Attorney General’s clearance for the draft MoU prepared for this purpose by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry to facilitate the implementation of this pilot project.

The exponential growth of the shipping industry and port development has underscored the need for an efficient system to monitor and respond to oil spills. By implementing a satellite-based monitoring service, Sri Lanka aims to swiftly detect oil spills, take immediate preventive measures, identify responsible vessels, and initiate necessary legal actions to safeguard the marine environment.

The Economics and Finance Ministry of France has agreed to provide a Grant of € 601,810 through Collected Localisation Satellites (CLS) for the pilot project.

“The collaborative efforts of Sri Lanka and France in implementing this satellite-based oil spill monitoring service hold great promise for mitigating the environmental risks associated with maritime activities,” the Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday.