UNLOCKING SRI LANKA’S OFFSHORE OIL & NATURAL GAS POTENTIAL

The Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka (PDASL) invites qualified energy companies to participate in the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026 - offering access to one of South Asia’s most prospective basins.

Register Interest

INVESTING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THE INDIAN OCEAN ENERGY STORY

Sri Lanka is pleased to launch the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026, inviting qualified international and domestic companies to participate in the exploration of offshore petroleum resources through a transparent, competitive and internationally aligned licensing process.

The licensing round forms part of the Government’s long-term visions to strengthen national energy security, encourage responsible investment and support sustainable economic development. Administered by the Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka under the Petroleum Resources Act No. 21 of 2021, the licensing round provides access to four offshore exploration blocks in the Mannar Basin, supported by comprehensive technical data and a clearly defined legal and commercial framework.

Ready for Upstream Investment

Sri Lanka has established the policy, legislative and regulatory foundations necessary to support responsible upstream investment, creating a transparent and competitive framework designed to attract international exploration companies and unlock the country's offshore petroleum potential.

Competitive Offshore Opportunity

The offshore blocks offered through the Sri Lanka Licensing Round provide access to a highly prospective yet underexplored petroleum province, presenting investors with a rare opportunity to secure frontier acreage with significant long-term exploration and development potential.

Trusted Long-Term Partner

The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to building long-term partnerships with investors, providing a stable, transparent and collaborative environment to support exploration, development and the responsible growth of the country's upstream petroleum sector.

Learn more

AN EXCITING NEW
EXPLORATION FRONTIER

Sri Lanka occupies a strategically important position within the Indian Ocean and possesses substantial offshore sedimentary basins that remain significantly underexplored when compared with neighbouring petroleum provinces.

The Mannar Basin is located southeast of India and west of Sri Lanka. The majority of the basin lies in water depths exceeding 1000 m increasing to 3000m in the south. The India-Sri Lanka maritime boundary divides the basin nearly in half and the Sri Lanka side of the basin covers approximately 42000 km2. Geologically it is an intra-cratonic failed rift separating the two countries.

Media
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Resources

HEAR FROM SRI LANKA’S ENERGY LEADERSHIP

Featured statements from the President, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Minister of Energy and PDASL leadership outlining Sri Lanka’s vision for responsible offshore exploration, investment, and energy security.

Leadership Team

BLOCKS, DATA AND SUBSURFACE 

Over 11,000 line km of 2D seismic 

Limited conventional 3D seismic in West Mannar 

Well data for calibration 

Basin studies and technical reports 

Approximately 40,000 km² of enhanced subsurface imaging derived from 2D seismic 

Interactive Map
download block map
Download Data Catalogue

A TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE LICENSING PROCESS

PDASL is committed to conducting a licensing round that reflects international best practice, providing clarity, transparency and equal access to information throughout the process. The Licensing Round has been designed to ensure all participants receive consistent technical information, clear evaluation criteria and a structured timetable.


Throughout the process, PDASL will maintain open communication with participating companies and provide clarification where appropriate to ensure a fair and efficient licensing programme.

Offshore oil drilling platform in the ocean under a partly cloudy sky.
Licensing Round Terms

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Register your organisation's interest in the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026 and receive further information on participation opportunities.

Register