The Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, represented Sri Lanka at the ‘Island States Ocean Summit (ISOS)’ held in Tokyo, Japan, from 2nd to 4th June.
The Minister participated in the inaugural session of the summit and several high-level diplomatic discussions attended by Heads of State and Fisheries Ministers from 35 countries, including Emperor Naruhito of Japan, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. In addition, the Minister held a special discussion with the Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Yohei Sasakawa.
Addressing the conference, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar emphasized that no single country can tackle the complex challenges of climate change, ocean pollution, overfishing, and biodiversity loss on its own.
“As an island nation located at the heart of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka’s identity, economy, and food security are deeply connected to the ocean. To address the shared challenges faced by island nations, we need meaningful international partnerships that go beyond words. In particular, developing island nations should receive support from developed countries in areas such as modern fisheries technology, satellite observation systems, and data sharing,” the Minister said.
He further noted that Sri Lanka is currently implementing a science-based fisheries management policy and advancing its ‘Blue Economy’ programme. The government has also prioritized the conservation of mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass ecosystems. The Minister stressed that the empowerment of small-scale fishers, women, and coastal youth must remain at the centre of all ocean governance reforms.
The Ministry of Fisheries stated that the visit helped establish a strong foundation for expanding technical and financial cooperation in fisheries and marine resource management with Japan and other island nations.
The Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekhar, and the Secretary to the Ministry, Dr. B. K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, also participated in the conference.
