Oil and natural gas resources from Mannar to Panadura: Prof. Atula

31-Aug-2026

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Large deposits of natural gas and high-quality crude oil are believed to exist in the western and north-western maritime areas of Sri Lanka, extending from the Mannar Basin to Panadura, Professor Atula Senaratne has stated.

He made the remarks at a press conference held in Colombo.

He further said:

Based on geological surveys and scientific data gathered from Sri Lankan waters, the presence of natural gas and crude oil resources in the area extending from Mannar to Panadura has been confirmed.

Proper exploration and extraction of these natural resources could provide a major solution to the country’s current economic crisis while also meeting its future energy requirements to a significant extent.

The use of appropriate technology, attracting international investment and implementing clear government policies are crucial to the success of the project.

Therefore, the Government should immediately take steps to explore and extract these offshore resources through proper planning, without political delays, he said.