Norway’s IMR and NARA sign MoU to study marine resources management in Sri Lanka

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Norway, Godfrey Cooray was invited by National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) to attend the agreement signing function between Institute of Marine Research (IMR) Norway and NARA on Improve management of Marine Resources in Sri Lanka (PhaseII) at the auditorium of the Ministry of Fisheries.

Sri Lanka and Norway have long-standing cooperation within the fisheries sector dating back to the beginning of the 1970s. The latest bilateral cooperation project started in 2017, with the aim of improving management of the fish resources of Sri Lanka. The current project is an application for a phase II of the project that started in 2017 and ended in 2019, according to a statement issued by Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo.

The main objective of phase I of the project was to provide technical assistance to upgrade existing fisheries dependent data collection and technical assistance and training in conducting fisheries independent marine research surveys. The outcome of above will be fundamental to formulate management plans for two selected coastal fisheries, small pelagic in west coast and demersal resources in southeast coast.

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda, State Minister of Ornamental Fish, Inland Fish & Prawn Farming, Fishery Harbour Development, Multiday Fishing Activities and Fish Exports Kanchana Wijesekara,   Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Norway Godfrey Cooray, Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries Indu Ratnayake, Secretary to the State Ministry of Ornamental Fish Mr. Jayantha Chandrasoma, Chairman NARA Prof. Navaratnarajah, Director General NARA Dr.H.M.P.Kithsiri, and representatives of NARA, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and a number of other government officials were present at the event.