Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to enhance cooperation on fishing sector
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mr. Tarik Ahsan paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mr. Mahinda Amraweera at the New Secretariat in Colombo on 20 May 2015. The Secretary to the Ministry Mr. Nimal Hettiarachchi was also present during the call. The High Commissioner was accompanied by a two-member business delegation from Bangladesh comprising Mr. Sarwar Hussain and Mr. Azizus Samad Azad Dawn.
During the meeting, the Bangladesh High Commissioner sought the support of the Minister in advancing the cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the fishing sector. The High Commissioner also highlighted the policy of Bangladesh government that encourages the involvement of private sector in tapping opportunities that have been created for Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal following the amicable settlement of maritime boundary with Bangladesh’s neighboring countries. The business delegation showed keen interest in collaborating with Sri Lankan counterparts in the areas of deep sea fishing.
The Minister assured cooperation in carrying forward cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in production, management and protection of fish resources in the respective territories of the two friendly countries. Discussion focused on implementation and possible review of the existing Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Fisheries between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka towards energizing cooperation particularly in areas of deep sea fishing, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, fish stock assessment, oceanography and human resources development in this sector.
