THE OPPORTUNITY

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Every nation must make strategic decisions about how it will meet its future energy needs while supporting economic growth and strengthening national resilience.

For Sri Lanka, the responsible development of our offshore petroleum resources is a crucial part of that strategy.

Through the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026, the Government is offering four offshore exploration blocks in the Mannar Basin to technically and financially qualified international and domestic companies.

The licensing round is conducted under the Petroleum Resources Act and administered by the Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka, providing investors with a modern legal framework and a transparent licensing process aligned with recognised international practice.

Companies will have access to comprehensive geological, geophysical and well data to support their technical evaluation, together with clearly defined bidding procedures and contractual arrangements based upon Sri Lanka's Model Petroleum Resources Agreement.

We believe these offshore blocks represent an important and unique frontier exploration opportunity within the Indian Ocean region.

Our objective is to attract experienced companies that can combine technical excellence with responsible operational practices and a commitment to long-term partnership.

The Ministry of Energy, together with the Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka, remains fully committed to supporting investors throughout the licensing process. We invite you to evaluate this opportunity and engage directly with our technical teams.

We look forward to welcoming your participation in the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026.