South Korea has agreed in principle to support the development of Mirissa Harbour as a combined fisheries and tourism port, and will explore cooperation with Sri Lanka in fisheries technology, aquaculture and marine biotechnology.
The preliminary agreement was reached in bilateral talks in Busan between Dr. B.K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, and South Korean representatives, the Daily Mirror reported.
The forum
Dr. Jinadasa was in South Korea at the invitation of its Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries for the 2026 Korea International Cooperation Conference on Oceans and Fisheries (KICCOF-2026), organised by the Korea Maritime Institute under its Best Achievements in Oceans and Fisheries Official Development Assistance (BADA) programme.
The conference ran under the theme “A New Path for Ocean and Fisheries ODA: Connecting Technology, Communities, and People” and drew close to 100 government officials and experts from 11 countries.
What was discussed
Sri Lanka’s focus in the bilateral session was on attracting South Korean investment to modernise the fisheries industry, promote local fisheries and develop fisheries tourism. The proposed Mirissa development is expected to combine fishing activity with tourism while addressing marine litter.
Two further strands were raised:
- AI-based forecasting. The two sides discussed introducing artificial intelligence-based forecasting technology to Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector by 2028, to improve forecasting capability and support the industry.
- Blue economy investment. South Korean investors were invited to examine opportunities in Sri Lanka’s aquaculture, marine bioprospecting and blue biotechnology sectors.
Addressing the conference, Dr. Jinadasa pointed to longstanding relations between the two countries and cooperation between the Fisheries Ministry and South Korean institutions including the Korea Maritime Institute and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). Such partnerships, he said, had helped create employment for Sri Lankan youth in the fisheries sector.
Mirissa’s dual role
Mirissa, on the southern coast in Matara district, already functions as both a fishing harbour and the country’s principal whale-watching departure point — the combination of working port and tourist terminal that the proposed upgrade would formalise.
Not reported
The filing gives no value for the proposed investment, no timeline for the harbour work, and no indication of what form Korean support would take — grant, concessional loan or private investment. “Agreed in principle” is not defined, and no memorandum of understanding is reported as signed. It does not say which Korean agency would lead, name the South Korean representatives at the bilateral talks, or give a date for the conference. No other verified newsroom had carried the announcement at the time of writing, and no statement from the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was available.