Bay of Bengal Binds India and Sri Lanka Through Shared Ecological Destiny: Justice Surya Kant

Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant shared his views on the India-Sri Lanka relationship. Speaking on the topic "India-Sri Lanka Policy Dialogue: Advancing Environmental Sustainability and Regional Cooperation" at the Law Faculty of the University of Colombo, the Justice said that the Bay of Bengal "does not divide us, but rather binds the two countries through a shared ecological destiny."

At the Law Faculty event, Justice Surya Kant said that environmental cooperation between India and Sri Lanka is not a matter of charity or diplomacy, but a question of survival. He stated that the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar are hotspots of biodiversity, home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and numerous endangered species. But the ecological balance of these areas is in serious danger due to overfishing, destructive trawling practices, and uncontrolled coastal construction.

Justice Surya Kant said that the judiciaries of India and Sri Lanka now need to adopt a "regional environmental constitutional model," as many environmental rights and obligations transcend borders. Justice Surya Kant said that both countries must shoulder shared geographical responsibility as the pace of environmental damage is accelerating. Issues such as oil spills, coral reef bleaching, and the impact on the livelihoods of fishing communities have now become shared crises for both countries.