Sri Lanka launches international workshop on national plan of action for small-scale fisheries

Colombo, Nov.23 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka marked a significant step in sustainable fisheries management with the inauguration of the International Workshop on the National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF), held yesterday (20) at the Lotus Tower in Colombo.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath highlighted the country’s longstanding connection to the ocean, describing it as both “a provider and a protector” throughout Sri Lanka’s history.

The Minister said the NPOA-SSF represents Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development and aims to uplift more than 80 percent of the nation’s fishing community, who have served as custodians of marine resources for generations.

He noted that Sri Lanka is the first country in South Asia to begin formulating a National Plan for small-scale fisheries management, underscoring the country’s leadership in the region.

The workshop is being conducted in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO). Minister Herath emphasized that Sri Lanka intends not only to participate in regional progress but to lead “by example, by conviction, and by action.”

Marking World Fisheries Day 2025 – Aqua Planet 2025, he called for renewed cooperation, innovation, and commitment to sustainable ocean stewardship, stating that safeguarding marine resources is Sri Lanka’s duty to future generations.