A special discussion was held yesterday (02) at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Japan between the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, who is currently on an official visit to participate in the Island States Ocean Summit (ISOS) in Tokyo, and senior officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of JICA, and attended by a delegation that included Mr. Takashi Komori, Regional Director for South Asia.
During the discussions, both sides extensively reviewed the challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector and explored future development initiatives. Particular attention was given to the Gap Analysis conducted to identify deficiencies in the sector’s technical and infrastructural facilities, following a request by the Minister of Fisheries. The Japanese delegation agreed to dispatch a JICA technical team to Sri Lanka in the near future to formulate new development proposals based on the priorities identified in the report.
Special focus was also placed on the Kirinda Fishery Harbour, which has faced operational difficulties for many years. The delegation assured the Minister that JICA is committed to providing scientific and technical solutions to issues related to the harbor.
The Minister expressed his appreciation for the swift assistance extended by the Government of Japan to Sri Lankan fishermen affected by the recent Cyclone Ditwah. He also recalled Japan’s historic contributions to Sri Lanka’s development, including support for the Sri Lankan Parliament Complex, Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, and the country’s television broadcasting sector.
The discussion was also attended by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan, Prof. Pivithuru Janaka Kumarasinghe, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Dr. B.K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa.
