EU Considers Lifting Sri Lanka’s Fish Import Ban

The European Commission has offered Sri Lanka assistance to meet regulatory requirements to enable early lifting of a ban on fish imported from Sri Lanka to the EU.

Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry on Thursday said the decision was made following talks held between Sri Lanka and the European Commission, Xinhua news agency reported.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera was in Brussels this week to discuss the ban.

In Brussels, Samaraweera met Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and members of the European Parliament.

He held talks with the European commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries and the European commissioner for international cooperation and development.

The talks focused on steps Sri Lanka has made and will carry out to comply with international fishing regulations and the process of requalifying for tariff concessions.

The EU imposed the ban on fish imports from Sri Lanka after the latter continued to violate international regulations on deep sea fishing. (Bernama)