The National Fisheries Federation held its first Director Board meeting for 2025 at the Ministry Auditorium on January 28, presided...
Mr. Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Minister of Fisheries, joined the Pongal Festival celebrations organized at the Prime Minister’s Office under the leadership...
Mr. Suranga Prasath Hindalla Arachchi has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Ceylon Fisheries Corporation by the Minister...
This quality control section was declared open on 26-01-2024 at Katunayake Airport premises, in order to fulfill the strong request...
New Secretariat,
Maligawatta,
Colombo 10,
Sri Lanka
State Minister
State Ministry of Fisheries
Tel | : | +94 112 446 188 |
Fax | : | +94 112 446 187 |
: | stateminister[at]fisheries.gov.lk |
H. M. Piyal Nishantha De Silva (born 30th June 1970) is a Sri Lankan politician and a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Education
Piyal Nishantha received his primary and secondary education at Aluthgama National School, Aluthgama. After that, he followed a diploma course at the Distance Learning Centre and became a teacher in Visual and Performing Arts in 1993.
Political Career
Piyal Nishantha began his political career in 1996 being elected as the Secretary of Sri Lanka Freedom Party in Kaluwamodara Grama Niladari Division. In 1997 he was elected to the Beruwala Pradeesheeya Sabha and became the Chairman of the Beruwala Pradeesheeya Sabha in 2006.
In 2009 he was elected to the Western Province Provincial Council. In 2015 he entered parliament for the first time representing the United People's Freedom Alliance from Kalutara District.
He also contested at the 2020 parliamentary election representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and was elected to the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka. On 12th August 2020, he was appointed as the State Minister of Women and Child Development, Pre-School & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services as a part of the first cabinet of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
On 08th September 2022, he was appointed as the State Minister of Fisheries under the second cabinet of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar
Minister
Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources
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Miss. K. N. Kumari Somarathna Secretary |
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Mrs. N. A. A. P. S. Nissanka Additional Secretary (Administration & Human Resources) |
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Mrs. Anusha Gokula Fernando Additional Secretary (State Minister's Coordination) |
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Mr. Dhammika Ranatunga Additional Secretary (Fisheries Resource Management) |
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Mr. H. M. K. J. B. Gunarathne Additional Secretary (Development) |
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Mrs. A. H. S. Fareeda Director General (Planning) |
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Mr. K. K. A. Piyasena Director General ( ) |
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Mrs. J. A. W. K. Jayakody Chief Financial Officer |
The increasing demand for fish and fishery products in the domestic and international markets has created promising opportunities for coastal nations to increase the share of the fisheries and aquaculture industry in their national economies. To sustainably benefit from these opportunities, it is necessary to optimize the production from fisheries and aquaculture industry without over-exploiting their resource base. For development of fisheries and aquaculture in Sri Lanka, new investments need to be fostered. One of the basic requirements to build-up the confidence of local and foreign investors to invest in the sector, is to have a stable national fisheries and aquaculture policy in place that conforms to the general economic and social development policy of the Government. It is also necessary to ensure that the development and management of the sector conforms to the requirements stipulated in regional and international treaties on conservation and management of fisheries resources.
In this context, the Fisheries Sector of the Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economy, in association with the departments and agencies under its purview has formulated the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy presented in this document, after a comprehensive consultation process. The Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries under a bilateral co-operation agreement has provided advisory services for development of the Policy.
For more Information : Download the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.