Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026 Launched

Sri Lanka has launched Licensing Round 2026 (SL2026-01), offering four offshore exploration blocks covering nearly 34,000 km² in the Mannar Basin to qualified international energy companies, where prior exploration confirmed a working petroleum system.

SRI LANKA LICENSING ROUND 2026 (SL2026-01) LAUNCHED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SL2026-01 offers four offshore exploration blocks covering almost 34,000 km² to international energy companies COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 25th August 2026 – The Government of Sri Lanka, through the Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka (PDASL), today officially announced the opening of the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026 (SL2026-01), offering four offshore exploration blocks in the Mannar Basin (see Figure 01) to qualified international energy companies. The Licensing Round represents a significant opportunity for international explorers to evaluate acreage within Sri Lanka’s most established offshore petroleum basin, where previous exploration has demonstrated the presence of a working petroleum system.