Sri Lanka, Aug. 17 -- Sri Lanka is an island. We are surrounded by the sea and have some of the richest fishing waters in the region. Yet, despite this natural advantage, we continue to import large quantities of fish every year.
This is something the government needs to seriously question.
The latest figures show just how much we have come to depend on imports. During the first nine months of 2025, Sri Lanka imported 42,796 metric tonnes of fish and fish products, spending nearly Rs. 26 billion. During the same period, local fish production was around 281,755 metric tonnes. This means imported fish was equal to about 15 percent of local production.
For an island, this is difficult to understand.
There will always be a need to import ce...