Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish industry received a much-needed boost from the Export Development Board (EDB) Ornamental Advisory Committee meeting, which was held recently at the EDB.

Chaired by Ornamental Fish Advisory Committee Chairman Sathyendra Wijayapura and attended by EDB Chairman Dr. Kingsley Bernard, prominent figures from the industry, including leaders from the Tropical Ornamental Fish Association, the gathering aimed to directly address the obstacles faced by the sector.
At the event, Dr. Bernard conveyed an optimistic tone and expressed a strong commitment to resolve the industry’s issues with the assistance of the relevant government agencies and discussions during the meeting delved into the key challenges faced by the island’s ornamental fish sector. The industry representatives pointed out that the competitive freight rates offered by other countries affect the potential of Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish exports in the European and USA markets while the urgent need for reforms in importation conditions, import bans, regulations on tissue-cultured plants and the Forest Department’s restrictions on exporting exotic species was also stressed during the consultation. 

Further, concerns were raised about delays in obtaining fresh animal quarantine reports, within a 48-hour timeframe, thereby restricting the ability to provide timely customer updates, particularly during extended weekends.

The meeting underscored the industry’s pressing need for comprehensive reforms across various aspects of the ornamental fish sector. The EDB conducts webinars and awareness sessions regularly with the support of foreign missions to foster connections with clients in overseas markets as well as drive growth in the industry.
Emphasising the importance of the EDB advisory committees, the meeting emphasised their pivotal role in informing advisors, policymakers, national institutions and other stakeholders about necessary programmes and reforms aimed at boosting specific industries. The facilitation of the growth of Sri Lanka’s export sector remains as the overarching objective of the EDB advisory committees.

The officials of the EDB – Export Agriculture division were present at the meeting, symbolising the collaborative efforts and the commitment of various sectors to drive positive change in the ornamental fish industry.