A cordial meeting was held between the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Mr. Rathna Gamage, and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to Sri Lanka, Mr. Masood Imad, at the Ministry of Fisheries ( 8th of September).
The main objective of the meeting was to strengthen cooperation in the fisheries sector between the two countries.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Dr. B. K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, and the Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister, Mr. H.S. Hathurusingha, were also participated for this occasion.
Recalling the long-standing friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives as two neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean, the Deputy Minister and the High Commissioner discussed several issues of mutual benefit in the fisheries sector.
* Sustainable Fisheries Management: Both parties agreed on the importance of sustainable management of the common fisheries resources of the Indian Ocean, especially tuna, and the exchange of data.
* Trade and Investment Opportunities: The two parties also exchanged views on expanding trade in fisheries products between Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the opportunities available in the fisheries sector in the Maldives for Sri Lankan investors.
Both parties agreed to continue working closely in the future to develop the fisheries industries of the two countries, and the meeting concluded in a very cordial manner.
