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.