Sri Lanka Navy facilitated the first ever environmental sensitivity index (ESI) project for the country. The project from Colombo to Negombo was completed with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Navy, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other Sri Lankan stakeholders.

ESI maps provide a concise summary of coastal resources that are at risk if an oil spill occurs, in which case ESI maps can help responders meet their main response objectives – i.e. the reduction of the environmental consequences of the spill and commencement of cleanup efforts.

The ESI project was initiated consequent to the South Asia Regional Oil Spill Response Workshop held in Colombo back in November 2014.