News
Record breaking year for the Sri Lankan fisheries sector – Kanchana Wijesekera
by Priyan De Silva
State Minister of Ornamental fish, inland fish and prawn farming, fishery harbour development, multiday fishing activities and fish exports Kanchana Wijesekera says 2021 saw quite a number of challenges, but was a record setting year for the Sri Lankan fisheries sector.
The challenges faced by the industry were the Peliyagoda COVID cluster, the domestic and overseas lockdowns due to the pandemic, the increase in freight costs, the X-press Pearl maritime disaster and the floods in the Puttalam district, he says.
Nevertheless, due to the good fortune of the fisher folk and the cooperation between the stakeholders and officials of the fisheries sector the new records were set in 2021.
The revenue from the export of fish and fishery products reached an all-time high of USD 318 million, the highest export revenue in the history of the fisheries industry. In 2020, it was USD 215 million.
The positive balance of the fish trade in 2021 was USD 192 million the highest surplus the industry has ever gained. It was USD 23 million in 2020.
The value of imports (USD 126 million) and quantity of goods imported (56,176 MT) were the lowest in over a decade, In 2020, USD 191 million was spent on imports while the volume of imports was 85,809 MT.
Production from shrimp farming was almost double the previous high of 14,415 MT and the export value saw a 162% increase. Revenue from the export of ornamental fish saw a 74% increase from USD 21 million recorded in 2020.
The production of canned fish locally at the rate of 90,000 cans per day in January 2021 increased to 220,000 cans per day in December 2021. The annual domestic requirement of canned fish is about 275,000 cans per day. With the increase in the local production, there was a 76.2% decrease compared to the 36.806 MT imported in 2019.
Only 8758 MT of canned fish was imported in 2021.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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