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12 Sayurusara 2024 December

bed and access to the same from the surface is and deposits. Hence, an extensive study needs to
approximately 1500 m compared to the general be initiated to monitor underwater temperature
area depth of approximately 3000 m. If India and light absorption. Again the SLN is the best
succeeds in this request, the Cobalt-rich Afanasy- resource institute in this regard. The electronic
Nikitin Seamount will be a game-changing apparatus with monitoring equipment is easily
discovery for India’s future battery production. deployed from SLN floating platforms.
Therefore, the SLN needs to act promptly and
be a partner in the nation's development. When overlooking the above facts, the
importance of exploring the sea around us is
The water is a good medium to transfer well convinced. Maritime characteristics to the
sound. It transmits sound 4 times greater than community, nation, region, and extra region for
air. The sea means lots of sounds. These sounds economic strength, resource management, and
are generated by marine animals, ocean-going disaster management can be utilized to the
vessels both surface and sub-surface, man made maximum. But the way ahead is not flat and
sounds, and natural sounds. Frequent studying smooth. Each component, sensor, and knowledge
and analysis of these sounds can be useful in will be a huge challenge to the nation. However,
predicting natural disasters, the behaviour of we must not leave behind in this race. Because
marine biology, and surface and sub-surface the race has already begun with nations from
human and non-human activities. Further, it will regional and extra-regional competitors. They
benefit from maintaining an underwater sound participate and compete with each other to share
data bank which is highly essential to monitoring, their portion. These nations know that at the
studying, and processing underwater sounds. end of the race, there will be a bright light that
The SLN is the idle platform for this task. The provides an avenue to the nation’s development.
floating platforms and proximity to the coast Hence, investing in underwater observation is not
are unique advantages SLN possesses to be a a waste. This has to be convincing to the strategic
great partner in sound observation. Further, decision-makers. The SLN needs to play a major
SLN can act as underwater sound processing role in this environment. The SLN must act as
institutes which are finally disseminated to the a mediator to all maritime interested parties
respective institutes such as the fishing industry such as the Sri Lanka Port Authority, Sri Lanka
for sustainable fishing, the tourist industry for Geological Survey and Mine Bureau, Sri Lanka
whale and dolphin watching, search and rescue National Hydrographic Office, National Aquatic
operations, and identification of illegal human Resource Research and Development Agency,
activities such as dynamite fishing, and treasure and Universities in Sri Lanka. Further, the SLN
hunting. should be flexible in providing all opportunities
available for resource personnel to research,
The sea absorbs sunlight differently. monitor, study, and data process in this field.
The passing of sunlight through seawater is an With that SLN can be a crucial partner of the
important factor in the growth of underwater nation-building process.
flora, the spread of marine ecosystems, and
ocean currents. Further, it is directly related That is why SLN needs to expand underwater
to the variation of underwater temperature. observation facilities.
This is the main feature of marine growth
and migration of aquatic life. Because of the
underwater temperature difference, the ocean
current varies resulting in underwater erosion Commander (E)
KMC Lal
NRE 1819
SLNS Parakrama