News

Fish population in shallow seas decreased: NARA

Published

2 years ago

July 19, 2023

editor

The fish population in the country’s shallow seas has decreased due to over-fishing by fishermen for decades, the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) said

A research conducted by the NARA revealed that the fish population in shallow sea areas has decreased by about 50%.

The area up to 24 km from the coast is considered as shallow sea.

The NARA said that about 80% of the fishing vessels in the country harvest fish resources in the shallow sea areas.

However, Socio Economics & Marketing Research Division Head K.H.M.L. Amaralal said there is no shortage of fish in the sea areas from 24 to 200 kilometers as well as in the exclusive economic zone and international sea areas.

He said that there is the possibility of harvesting abundant fish by expanding the fishing activities in these areas and that fishermen should focus more on this.

(Newsfirst)

News

Former Eastern Provincial Council member arrested

Published

6 hours ago

July 6, 2025

editor

Ampara District Organizer of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party and former member of the Eastern Provincial Council K. Pushpakumar alias Iniya Bharathi has been arrested.

He was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of the former Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University Prof. Subramaniyam Ravindranath.

Sivanathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and former State Minister, was arrested by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department at his office in Batticaloa on April 8, over this incident.

He was later detained for 3 months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Iniya Bharathi, also known as Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar, was arrested based on information revealed during the interrogation of Pillayan.

News

e-Revenue Licence system down due to technical glitch, ICTA says

Published

6 hours ago

July 6, 2025

editor

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) said the electronic Revenue Licence system (eRL 2.0) is currently unavailable due to a critical technical infrastructure issue.

According to the ICTA, the disruption began on July 3, 2025, and has made vehicle revenue licence issuing services inaccessible.

The unavailability is expected to continue until July 9, 2025.

The ICTA expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and assured that technical teams are working urgently to resolve the issue.

The agency also said that further updates will be shared as work progresses, with an official notice to be issued once services are restored.