The Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka opened the Sri Lanka Licensing Round 2026 (SL2026-01) offering four offshore exploration blocks in Mannar basin to qualified international energy companies.

The Government is seeking experienced international companies with the technical expertise, financial capability, and offshore exploration experience required to responsibly evaluate and potentially develop the country’s petroleum resources.

The four blocks covering a combined area of about 33,964 sq km and include 2026-MB-01(5,948.95 sq km), 2026-MB-02 (5,689.05 sq km), 2026-MB-03 (10,597.67 sq km), and 2026-MB-04 (11,728.30 sq km). The blocks extend across water depths of about 100-3,000 m.

Previous exploration has demonstrated a working petroleum system and resulted in gas and condensate discoveries, providing important evidence of the basin’s hydrocarbon potential. At the same time, substantial areas remain comparatively underexplored, creating an opportunity for international companies to apply modern exploration technologies and interpretation techniques.

The licensing round is supported by geological and geophysical information available to prospective investors, enabling companies to undertake detailed technical evaluation of the offered acreage.

The round will be supported by an international investor roadshow and investor engagement program.