State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha de Silva said that decisive actions must be taken concerning State officials who fail to align with the Government’s forward-moving agenda. 

He expressed these views on Wednesday (9) during a press conference themed “Collective path to a stable country” held at the Presidential Media Centre.

 “The failure to make these determinations threatens the gradual collapse of the fishing industry. Should such a collapse occur, the recovery process will be arduous and time-consuming,” he said.

 “The Ministry has actively engaged in addressing fishermen’s welfare and challenges, focusing on technology adoption for the fishing industry progress and in enhancing international relations. Yearly programmes have been instituted, including initiatives like ‘Dola Rala Saviya’ and ‘Rala Pela Dinana Daruwo’. These programmes extend services to benefit fishing communities, such as insurance, pension, and saving schemes for children. The Ministry has initiated broad-reaching programmes to promote behavioural change within fishing families, notably the ‘Diriya Deewara Amma’ campaign, which addresses parental qualities and drug awareness. A novel cooling system has been incorporated into a vessel, marking a pioneering effort to mitigate post-harvest losses within the fishing industry. Consumers have experienced the brunt of escalating fish prices due to climatic influences and disruptions caused by religious festivities, leading to decreased fishing activity. These factors have hindered fish availability in the market. While some officials dutifully fulfil their responsibilities, others lack comprehension of the Ministry’s objectives, resulting in a regrettable situation.”