The 20th District Fisheries Coordination Committee meeting, aimed at resolving the issues faced by freshwater and ornamental fish industry owners in Matale District, was held on 04.11.2025 at the Matale District Secretariat under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Rathna Gamage.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Gamagedara Dissanayake, the Mayors of Matale and Dambulla, Divisional Secretaries, senior officers of the Police, Wildlife and Irrigation Departments, as well as the Chairpersons of the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) and the Fisheries Corporation and representatives of the fishing associations in the area.
Long-standing issues facing by fishermen in major reservoirs such as Dewahuwa, Moragahakanda and Nalanda were discussed at length. Issues such as unauthorized land acquisition in the Dewahuwa reservoir, the spread of invasive aquatic plants and the need to reduce the large security zone that restricts access to fishing activities in the Moragahakanda reservoir were identified.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister Rathna Gamage emphasized the crucial importance of inter-institution collaboration to address these issues successfully. He expressed his regret over the absence of senior officials from key institutions such as the Mahaweli Authority and the Irrigation Department, despite being officially notified.
"The main objective of these coordination meetings is to bring all relevant institutions together on a single platform and find practical solutions to the problems faced by the fishing community. Deputy Minister pointed out that progress in this field depends on the collective efforts and coordination of all parties and the absence of chief officials is an obstacle to take effective and timely decisions.
Key outcomes and references from the meeting:
- Sustainable Management: Further strengthening of the management plans prepared by the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), as they have led to increase fish harvest in reservoirs such as Dewahuwa and Moragahakanda.
- Infrastructure Development: Expedite the renovation of the Nalanda Reservoir sluice and the upgrading of access roads to the fishing pier.
- Support to the ornamental fish industry: Seek regional cooperation to reduce the cost of fish feed, provide credit facilities and launch new programs to train exporters.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed that the Ministry is committed to create a sustainable and profitable fishing industry while working closely with all provincial and national institutions.
