Small-scale ornamental fish producers hit by Cyclone Ditwah will receive financial assistance of Rs. 75,000 or Rs. 50,000 depending on the scale of losses, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Rathna Gamage announced after a stakeholder discussion on Monday (18 May).
The talks at the Ministry premises brought together leading ornamental fish producers and exporters from across the island. The Deputy Minister said the grants would offer “vital support to farmers struggling even to purchase fish feed” following the November 2025 cyclone that devastated rural production sites.
A new transparent import mechanism will be introduced to prevent setbacks from previous restrictions, the Deputy Minister told industry representatives. Entrepreneurs will be permitted to legally import fish species based on business needs, while the existing list of prohibited species will be revised after consultation with an expert committee.
The National Aquatic Resources Development Authority (NAQDA) will continue to implement the sector operational plan, the Ministry said. The Deputy Minister also agreed to hold direct discussions with industry stakeholders every two to three months to monitor progress and resolve outstanding issues.
Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish industry is a small but high-value export sector that supplies aquarium markets in Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The Ditwah relief package adds to the evolving compensation framework the National Disaster Relief Services Centre and line ministries have been rolling out for cyclone-affected livelihoods.
