The temporary ban imposed on the import of canned fish from overseas must be made permanent to prevent a total collapse of the local canned fish industry and save forex to the tune of over USD 130 million annually, the Canned Fish Manufacturing Association of Sri Lanka urged (CFMASL) calling a press briefing in Colombo. CFMASL President Shiran Fernando said during the tenure of Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda the canned fish industry in the country has achieved self-sufficiency and there was no need to spend USD 12 million monthly (USD 130 mn annually) to import canned fish from overseas any longer.
He therefore requested Minister Devananda to impose a permanent ban on the imports of canned fish from overseas to prevent the shutdown of over 16 major local canned fish factories and the ruination of the local canned fish industry. Moreover, he said the savings of foreign exchange can be utilized in more important factors. Fernando appreciated the fact that Minister Devananda after listening to their submissions imposed a temporary ban on canned fish imports in January and has been very cooperative and helpful towards their cause.
“However, other line ministries have fallen short of coming in line with the directives of the fisheries ministry that has led to jeopardizing the local canned fish industry. He said Customs figures show that despite a ban being imposed, 4.5 million canned fish tins have been imported to the country during January to June 2024.”
The association therefore questioned how these imports took place when a ban had been imposed. Fernando said the local canned fish industry is in danger of totally collapsing with the imminent shut down of local canned fish factories due the influx of imported canned fish to the country despite the ban.
He said on top of this a VAT of 18% (Rs 125 per can) has been imposed on local canned fish but imported canned fish has been exempted from this creating a totally unfavorable playing field to local manufacturers who make an import substitution of over USD 100 million annually to the local economy.
Fernando said,“every container imported is a container of unemployment” to the country because the fish, labour, salt and water is foreign. He however said when compared to the locally manufactured tin, every single part of it is manufactured in Sri Lanka. Over 1 million people depend on the canned fish industry and it would be a catastrophe if the livelihood of those people is jeopardized by giving step motherly treatment.
He said their association had purchased the excess local fish production alleviating the grievances of the local fisher folk for over a decade and due to the influx of imported fish cans they will have to stop purchasing local fish creating a severe uproar among the fishing community soon.
Moreover, the local manufacturers can fish within 24 hours without adding any chemicals to provide a very high quality protein meal to Sri Lankans and the industry needs to be protected and nurtured for the future generations of the country. Therefore, the association urged the impalement of a permanent ban on canned fish imports without further delay which otherwise could lead to dire consequences to the economy and society at large.