Regional Capacity Building Programme on Marine Pollution Responses for South Asian Seas Region Launches in Colombo

November 18, 2024

The Regional Capacity Building Programme on Marine Pollution Responses in the South Asian Seas Region jointly organized by SACEP and Ocean Country Partnership Programme of UK government, commenced on 18th November 2024 at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo, Sri Lanka. This landmark initiative seeks to bolster regional cooperation and readiness to address the critical issue of marine pollution.

The event witnessed the participation of distinguished guests, including His Excellency Andrew Patrick, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, and Mrs. Pathma Abeykoon, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka. Experts and Officials from South Asian Seas Programme (SASP) member countries: Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, officials from the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), South Asia Co- operative Environment Programme(SACEP), and Resource persons were also attended.

The five-day workshop, running from 18th to 22nd November 2024, has been designed to achieve several key goals:

Reinvigorate the SACEP Framework: Evaluate existing capacities and progress made by countries, while identifying barriers to implementation.
Enhance National-Level Discussions: Provide a platform to assess gaps in readiness, explore opportunities for mutual aid, and promote better regional collaboration and coordination.
Learn from Global Best Practices: Share lessons from incidents, highlight best practices, and identify training needs to strengthen regional expertise.
Develop Future Plans: Establish the groundwork to update the South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) regional plan, ensuring a long-lasting and effective partnership.

This programme is supported by the Ocean Country Partnership Programme, funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the UK’s Blue Planet Fund. The funding reflects a commitment to promoting sustainable ocean management and environmental resilience.

Over the course of the workshop, participants will engage in discussions on improving readiness, regional collaboration, and response coordination. Training needs and opportunities for regional exercises will also be explored to ensure long-term success.

This programme is a critical step toward addressing marine pollution in the South Asian Seas Region, laying the foundation for a cleaner, healthier marine environment through enhanced cooperation and strategic action.