Two Sri Lankan vessels stopped in southern Maldivian waters

Even though the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) had decided to demarcate the maritime boundary lines between Maldives and Mauritius, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu made the decision yesterday to view the 200 nautical mile zone as part of Maldivian waters, with two fishing vessels having been stopped by the Maldivian Coast Guard yesterday.

As per an X post by the Defence Ministry, the pictures they had included of the Coast Guard which shows them stopping two Sri Lankan fishing vessels, as the Coast Guard's Dharumavantha vessel had been conducting activities in the region.

The photo shows the two fishing boats having been stopped 104 nautical miles outside of Addu Gan. The Coast Guard were circling the two vessels, but the MNDF are yet to provide any details regarding the matter.

Even though both vessels had been stopped, it is unclear whether action was taken against them.

While giving this year's Presidential Address at Parliament yesterday, President Muizzu said that the government would not acknowledge ITLOS's decision and stated that the territory covering Maldivian waters is as it was before.

As per the President, amendments have been submitted to the Parliament regarding the Maritime Zone of Maldives Act.

Referring to the President's remarks, the Ministry of Defence issued a statement yesterday saying that since the President has made this declaration, the Maldives National Defence Force will work to the fullest extent of its capability to defend and monitor the Maldivian territory as specified in the Constitution and laws of Maldives. The statement also noted that this is a matter of the highest interest to the Maldivian citizens.

"The Maldivian military will continue to do everything necessary to establish a conducive, peaceful, and secure environment to achieve economic and social benefits within the territory and seas of the Maldives in accordance with legal principles," the Defence Ministry's statement said.

According to the statement, the only agreement the Maldives has signed regarding the delimitation of its maritime territory is the 1976 agreement to divide the maritime area with countries to the north where a 200-nautical-mile zone was not available.

As the Maldives has not signed any such additional agreement with any other party, the statement noted that in all other areas, the 200-nautical-mile zone would be considered as a part of the Maldives.

In connection to the case Mauritius had presented to ITLOS in 2022, ITLOS had decided that Diego Garcia falls under the sovereignty of Mauritius, with the maritime territories having been redrafted. 

The overlapping maritime area between the Maldives and Mauritius covered approximately 95,000 square kilometres. Under the division, the Maldives received 47,232 square kilometres, while Mauritius received 45,331 square kilometres, based on a 200 nautical mile entitlement for each country.

Maldives and Mauritius did not have to carve out marine territory amongst each other previously as Diego Garcia was under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.