The European Union ban imposed on Sri Lankan fish exports has been lifted, the Sri Lankan Government Information Department said on Friday.
Director Government Information Dr. Ranga Kalanssoriya said that the ban has been lifted after a recent high-level discussion held to decide on the lifting of the EU fish ban imposed on Sri Lanka.
EU announced the ban in October 2014, due to Sri Lanka’s failure to prevent local fishermen from violating international fisheries laws and human rights issues. Sri Lanka’s seafood exports were severely hit and continued to decline since the ban took effect.
Sri Lanka is one of the largest exporters to the EU of high value fishery products such as swordfish and tuna.
According to the EU Commission, Sri Lanka exported 7,400 tones of fish worth 74 million euros (94 million U.S. dollars) in 2013 and over 5,000 tones of fisheries products earning 9,103 million Sri Lankan rupees (62.99 million dollars) in 2014 to the EU countries respectively.