Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandraseker, has taken decisive steps to appoint a special committee focused on preventing and minimising accidents involving fishing vessels at sea.

Following this directive, the Minister has formally instructed the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department Director General Susantha Kahawatta to establish the committee and prepare comprehensive recommendations to enhance maritime safety.

This move comes in response to a series of tragic incidents that occurred on June 28, when several fishing boats departing from the Dondara, Beruwala and Tangalle harbours met with accidents at sea, resulting in the loss of several fishermen’s lives. In addition to investigating these incidents, the committee will focus on raising awareness within the fishing community to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Director General Susantha Kahawatta stated that the Ministry is closely monitoring the situation. He confirmed that all necessary efforts are underway to locate the missing fishermen and to provide relief and support to the affected families.

He further emphasised the Ministry’s continued commitment to the safety and welfare of the fishing community and assured that proactive measures will be introduced to reduce the risk of such incidents going forward.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

A special session of the Sri Lankan Parliament will commence at 9:30am today (June 30), presided over by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, to present the Government’s Mid-Year Fiscal Strategy Statement in accordance with Section 11 of the State Financial Management Act No. 44 of 2024.

As mandated by the Act, the government is required to present its fiscal strategy to Parliament by June 30 each year. 

This year’s presentation follows a formal request made by the Prime Minister under Standing Order 16. Following the morning session, a debate on the adjournment motion related to the fiscal strategy will be held until 4:30 pm today.

The Meteorology Department has forecast several spells of showers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy, Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night, it said.

The Department also says that fairly strong winds of about 30-40 kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Hambantota districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.