By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 27 -- Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga announced that she will function as minister of a new Petroleum Resource Development Ministry.
Jaliya Medagama, chairman of state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corp., was appointed secretary to the ministry. He will continue his duties at Ceylon Petroleum. Medagama is former secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy.
TGS-Nopec Geophysical Co. and Fugro Geoteam recently acquired data in a 2D multiclient survey in the Gulf of Mannar between Sri Lanka and India. The survey culminated 4 years of work by TGS-Nopec and the government (OGJ Online, Feb. 8, 2005).
Sri Lankan officials have said they plan a bid round for oil and gas exploration rights in December or in early 2006. International companies explored off Sri Lanka during the 1970s and 1980s but did not report any discoveries.