The European Union today announced that it has lifted the ban on Sri Lankan fish imports, Minister of Fisheries Mahinda Amaraweera announced.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera
The EU decision came following a crucial discussion today between officials from the Sri Lankan government and the European Union.
Since the ban, Sri Lanka recorded a loss of at least US$ 100 million annually.
The EU imposed a ban on importing fish from Sri Lanka to EU countries in January 2015, due to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities carried out in Sri Lanka.
The decision to lift the ban comes after a special EU team visited Sri Lanka late last year to evaluate the progress made in ensuring that Sri Lanka complied with the necessary requirements to lift the ban.
A major share of the country’s fish exports amounting to over 65% were exported to EU countries, before the ban.
Commission King Rodney / April 21, 2016
Now that incompetent clueless man in Brussels will go to town saying that it was he who achieved this ALL by himself.We will surely see this in the Cafe Spectataor Column this week.But it was Sri Lanka COMPLYING 100% with strict EU regulations that resulted in the ban been lifted after such a long time.Lobbying had absolutely no place in this positive result for the country.If lobbying was a factor then SL would have overcome the ban a long long time ago.
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Sama / April 22, 2016
No doubt that the fish community can finally breath in.
They were the ones who had been hit by the ban.
Not others that lived on their votes but did nothing get this done already months ago.
Now with the human rights issues getting shaped towards good, nothing wrong can stad on the way any pacts/agreemenets being finalized for a better future for the island nation.
Kudos go to the external politics of the current regime.
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Leelawathie / April 21, 2016
These are greater improvements – that Megalomaniac woudl never have achieved so quickly.
He lived in a well – while cointuing so, try to sabotage it further.
He sounded even if all the laws are against, he should be protected by Soldiers ?… This I heard from his cesspit lately. Meaning he should be put above the laws. How can anyone with a bird brain respect Mahinda Jarapakshes.
http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri-lanka-36082825
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colin / April 21, 2016
Thats a feather in the cap for diplomacy. Another success story after the China diplomatic breakthrough. Well done Ranil
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Varuna / April 21, 2016
The ban should not have happened in the first place if the required technological and legal measures were implemented.
More importantly, are the SL fisherman and the country going to benefit appropriately or the foreign trawlers?? and what about the fish reserves for our future ??
When is the island’s fish industry going to be made the example for the world in terms of sustainability, fishermen’s safety and value addition, etc..??
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