Regional Environmental Cooperation: India & Sri Lanka Urged to Strengthen Ties

On 23 October 2025, during the “Indo-Sri Lanka Policy Dialogue” in Colombo, Justice Kant (of the Indian judiciary) called for deeper environmental cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, stressing that environmental governance in the region is not just diplomatic charity, but a matter of shared survival.

Key points highlighted

• The maritime corridor between India and Sri Lanka is described as “rich in marine resources but ecologically stressed”, with threats from over-fishing, seabed mining, pollution, climate-driven sea-level rise and disrupted ocean currents.
• Justice Kant emphasised that environmental constitutionalism — the embedding of ecological rights and responsibilities at the constitutional or legal level — is essential in South Asia, where transboundary ecosystems do not respect national borders.

Why this matters

The Indian Ocean region is increasingly impacted by climate change: warming seas, acidification, declining fish stocks, and more extreme weather. For island-nations like Sri Lanka, the risks are magnified. Delhi and Colombo’s willingness (or otherwise) to cooperate on marine protected zones, pollution control, disaster-preparedness and shared data could serve as a model for other regional dialogues.

Challenges ahead

• Divergent national priorities: Economic development, sovereignty concerns and different institutional capacities often slow down meaningful cooperation.
• Poor data sharing and weak enforcement mechanisms across borders.
• Need for inclusive approaches that include local fishers, coastal communities, and scientific advisory bodies.

Recommended actions

• Establish a joint India-Sri Lanka marine ecosystem monitoring and response mechanism.
• Integrate coastal resilience into national climate adaptation plans for both countries.
• Strengthen legal/regulatory frameworks (environmental rights, constitutional guarantees) to give ecological cooperation teeth.
• Mobilise funding (multilateral and bilateral) for joint research, marine conservation and community-based adaptation.