"Our goal is a tomorrow of prosperity and respect for the fishing community “
At a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources to mark the commencement of duties for the new year 2026, Deputy Minister, Hon. Ratna Gamage pledged to make the coming year a year of action, sensitivity and transformative change for the fisheries sector. After giving the public service pledge, he presented this vision while addressing the ministry staff.
The importance of making 2026 a year of action by building on the foundation laid in 2025 was emphasized. The Deputy Minister pointed out that the decision taken under the leadership of His Excellency the President to release financial allocations for development projects from January, rather than the usual mid-year, is a great relief to the public service.
The Deputy Minister stated, "We ended last year with the pain of a massive cyclone. However, in the face of that challenge, our ministry staff came together, assessed the damage and prepared the foundation for recovery. In 2026, we will build a strong building on that foundation. Our mission is clear: to build a productive economy under the national vision of 'A Rich Country - A Beautiful Life."
Among the key priorities stated here, increasing economic growth took center stage. The Deputy Minister emphasized that increasing the contribution of the fisheries sector to the GDP from the current 1% to 5% over the next 5 years is a key goal. He also said that steps would be taken to increase the foreign exchange income earned by this sector by five times.
The Deputy Minister also specifically elaborated upon improving the quality of public service. He emphasized that it should be the ultimate responsibility of all officers to provide efficient and respectful service to the fishing community visiting the Ministry without unnecessary hassle and to instill comfort and hope in their hearts.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. B. K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, said, “If we have confidence in our wings, we need not fear the branch on which we stand.” The ministry staff was encouraged by stating, “I have full confidence in our ministry team to overcome all the challenges of 2026."
