Beyond Biodiversity, But Not Beyond Responsibility: The Role of the BBNJ Agreement in the Sri Lankan Context

May 13, 2026   Reading Time: < 1 minute

Reading Time: < 1 min read

Aakil Riyaz

Research Intern at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI)

Abstract: This Policy Brief examines what the BBNJ Agreement, the landmark 2023 treaty on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, which entered into force on 17th January 2026, actually demands of Sri Lanka as a State Party. Sri Lanka was among the four countries whose ratification instruments triggered the Agreement’s entry into force, which also functioned as a gesture of leadership that carried forward tangible obligations alongside its strong diplomatic symbolism. However, the domestic architecture needed to meet those obligations, such as a coherent legal framework and integrated institutional arrangements do not yet exist in a form suited to the task. Drawing on the treaty text, Sri Lanka’s existing maritime framework(s), and international experience(s), this paper examines the structural gaps, makes the case for a coordinated national response, and presents a practical roadmap for BBNJ implementation in Sri Lanka.