{"id":1504,"date":"2026-01-06T06:30:46","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T06:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/124.43.146.194\/?p=1504"},"modified":"2026-06-23T06:43:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T06:43:30","slug":"ministerial-consultative-committee-approves-regulations-under-the-fisheries-and-aquatic-resources-act-and-the-fishermens-pension-and-social-security-benefit-scheme-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fisheries.gov.lk\/?p=1504","title":{"rendered":"Ministerial Consultative Committee Approves regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and the Fishermen\u2019s Pension and Social Security Benefit Scheme Act"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Ministerial Consultative Committee Approves regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and the Fishermen\u2019s Pension and Social Security Benefit Scheme Act<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/\t\t\t\t
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The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources has approved several regulations proposed under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act and the Fishermen\u2019s Pension and Social Security Benefit Scheme Act, which are scheduled to be presented to Parliament for approval on 6th January 2026.<\/p>\n\n

The approval was granted at a meeting of the Committee held at Parliament on 5th January, under the chairmanship of the Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar. The Hon. Deputy Minister, Ratna Gamage, also participated in the meeting.<\/p>\n\n

Under the proposed regulations of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, it will be prohibited to catch, sell, possess, process or export mud crabs of carapace width (CW) of less than 130 millimeters measured at the widest part of the carapace of the mud crab. Officials noted that these regulations will be reviewed every three years, with amendments introduced as required.<\/p>\n\n

Additionally, regulations under the Fishermen\u2019s Pension and Social Security Benefit Scheme Act were presented to facilitate the provision of contributory pension benefits for fishermen.<\/p>\n\n

Addressing the Committee, Hon. Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar stated that awareness programmes would be implemented in the coming weeks to enroll fishermen in the pension scheme. He further noted that the scheme would be implemented with the collaboration of the Ministry of Fisheries and the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board. Plans are also underway to expand participation in the scheme, the Hon. Deputy Minister added.<\/p>\n\n

The meeting also included extensive discussions on issues faced by fishermen, including measures to prevent illegal fishing activities occurring in various parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n

Several Hon. Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, and government officials were present at the meeting.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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