In response to an allegation made by certain parties that the fish imported to Sri Lanka contains harmful chemicals, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera has ordered an investigation. Minister Samaraweera has informed the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) to conduct an investigation into the allegation and submit a report in two weeks. However, the Minister also emphasized that no research ever conducted have proved that fish imported to Sri Lanka contain any harmful chemical substances such as zinc and other heavy metals. NARA is engaged in conducting continuous research investigating the samples of imported and exported fish in order to assure the fish quality. At a discussion held recently with the representatives of fish exporters and importers of Sri Lanka, the Minister emphasized that preserving the quality of all the imported and exported fish is of prime importance. Similarly, imports of non-consumable fish to Sri Lanka and at the same time export of them to foreign nations shall not be done under any circumstances since it will result in disgrace to the country and harm to public health, he stressed. Sri Lanka in 2015 has imported 120,000 tons of fish and related fish products.
2000, 2016 by LankaPage.com (LLC)