News
SL scientists clueless about mission of Chinese research ship, says expert
There should be bilateral discussions and agreements on itineraries when foreign research vessels sail to foreign countries, says Prof. Emeritus Ruchira Kumaratunga, who established the country’s first university Oceanography Department at the University of Ruhuna. She said so commenting on the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, which has sought permission to dock and resupply in Sri Lanka.
“There must be a discussion between the Chinese and Sri Lankan scientists and researchers involved. For example, what will be done, what kind of information will be gathered and where the collected information will be stored. This is not the first time that a research ship has arrived in Sri Lanka. I have even been involved in discussions when Norwegian marine research vessel, Fridtjof Nansen arrived,” she said.
Prof. Kumaratunga said that Ruhuna University had engaged with Chinese research vessels in the past. Prior to her retirement from the university, she was involved with the discussions with Chinese scientists, she said.
“However, the manner in which the collected data is stored is problematic. There is no report on the previous Chinese engagement with the university on the university website. On the other hand, Fridtjof Nansen data can be accessed by anyone,” she said.
Kumaratunga said she had written to the Minister of Justice before the approval for the ship was granted, asking him a few questions on the Chinese research vessel.
“The VC who held the discussions with the Chinese is now sick. The main geologist involved in the discussion is now a resident of the US. The university itself is not sure who will engage with the Chinese. The current VC also has no idea. I wasn’t involved in the discussions. I think academics of the Oceanography Department must be informed when such discussions are taking place,” she said.
The emeritus professor said that the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) said the Chinese vessel would work with the University of Ruhuna. However, given that the academics at the university seem to be clueless about the research vessel, Kumaratunga said she was apprehensive about the Chinese vessel.
“Not a single permanent academic at the university is aware of who will be involved in the research. Who will take part in the research, and where will the data repository be? Sri Lanka needs to have access to the data,” she said.
Prof. Kumaratunga said Shi Yan 6 would study the ocean floor owned by Sri Lanka and information on the ocean floor must be closely guarded. There can be many resources that Sri Lanka can extract, she said.
“Are there Sri Lankans who know what equipment that the Chinese will bring? First of all, we need to train our scientists. They need to know what equipment the foreign scientists will use. The data must be shared with us,” she said.
[ Cricbuzz]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri arrived at the Port of Colombo on an official visit today, 8 September 2026, where it was received by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with time-
honoured naval traditions.
INS Udaygiri is a 149.02m long Frigate, Commanded by Captain Vikas Sood. Meanwhile, the Commanding Officer of the visiting ship is scheduled to call on Commander Western Naval
Area, Rear Admiral Harsha De Silva at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
Captain Sood served as the Defence Adviser at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka from July 2020 to October 2023.
During their stay in the island, the crew of INS Udaygiri will participate in several goodwill events organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance camaraderie between the two forces.
The visiting personnel are also scheduled to visit prominent tourist and cultural locations across the island.
Additionally, Sri Lanka Navy personnel are expected to visit the ship for capability observation and knowledge sharing, and will conduct onboard training during its stay.
The Supreme Court has been petitioned seeking an explanation as to how eight petitions filed against the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution were not listed for hearing . Two of the petitioners, namely Dias Bandaralage Ajith Shantha Kumara Jayathilaka and Gunathilakage Dakum Dulara Gunathilaka, have requested an opportunity to examine the official Registry and parliamentary records so that all material facts may be objectively established. They said that their petitions that had been registered by the Supreme Court should have been heard along with other petitions.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Secretary General of Parliament, Speaker and the Attorney General have been named as the respondents.
The five-member bench that heard the petitions consisted of Chief Justice P. Padman Surasena, Achala Wengappuli, J, Arjuna Obeyesekere, J, Sampath B. Abayakoon, J and K.M.G.H. Kulatunga, J.
The petitioners sought the explanation in the absence of any judicial order dismissing, rejecting, striking out, terminating or otherwise disposing the said petitions. They have requested the disclosure of the complete procedural history of the unlisted cases.
The second petitioner Gunathilaka has referred to a speech by Jaffna District Independent MP Ramanathan Archuna in Parliament, on 21 August, 2026, regarding X-Press Pearl, a container carrier that sank off the port of Colombo, and related matters.
They have sought leave to proceed under Articles 17 and 126 of the Constitution and asked for a full Bench of the Supreme Court, or the widest Bench, constitutionally permissible.
They also requested that the Chief Justice and Achala Wengappuli refrain from participating in the hearing and determination of their application, having regard to the objective-appearance issue arising from their prior constitutional and judicial participation in matters forming part of the factual subject matter now requiring examination.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of Vinivida Foundation, Nagananda Kodituwakku, has requested the Supreme Court Registrar not to proceed with the determination of 22nd Amendment process, pending the hearing of fundamental rights petition filed by Chairman of the Vinivida Foundation lawyer, Sugandhika Fernando, seeking a full bench, excluding Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, to hear the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment Bill. She also requested that the hearing be suspended immediately until the matter was fully heard and determined.
Among the respondents are Chief Justice Surasena, the first respondent, and Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe. Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Gooneratne, Achala Wengappuli and Priyantha Fernando.
(SF)
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