As directed by the Prime Minister, the Sri Lanka Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the Norwegian Government for technical assistance for the formulation of a national fisheries and aquaculture policy. Accordingly, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industries and Fisheries, in consultation with the Ministry, has developed a project which will be funded by a grant from the Government of Norway, the Ministry said. The objectives of the project are to assist the Sri Lankan Government to formulate a new fisheries and aquaculture policy to suit the current and emerging needs of the sector, develop manpower for management and facilitate investment in the sector. Two workshops have been planned under the project in January with the participation of a team of Norwegian consultants to obtain a clear understanding of the sector, its past trends, current status, issues, confines and constraints and future development prospects to be used as a platform for policy formulation and to identify the limitations, confines and constraints imposed by external factors (other subjects and sectors) on the development of fisheries and design mitigation measures. Officials involved in the development and management of fisheries and aquaculture both at the national and provincial level, scientists and experts, industry partners and fisher representatives will be among the workshop participants. The workshops are due to ceremonially conclude on 12 December with the participation of the Minister, State Minister, Provincial Ministers of Fisheries and Charge de Affairs of the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo.