By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 13 -- The government of Sri Lanka awarded the Indian subsidiary of Cairn Energy Ltd., Edinburgh, an exploration license in the Mannar basin 100 miles north of Colombo.

Block SL 2007-01-001 covers 3,400 sq km in 200-1,800 m of water in the Gulf of Mannar. The petroleum resources agreement will be signed in due course, Cairn Energy said.

It is the northern of three blocks offered in a licensing round in 2007.