The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake
Ravi Karunanayake asked supplementary questions on the impact of removing para-tariffs on canned fish imports and rising diesel-related costs for the fisheries sector. He said eight local canned fish producers revived from 2015 are now at risk of closure because imports have become more profitable, while can prices have risen from Rs. 155 to about Rs. 500. He asked the Deputy Minister what measures would protect fishers, consumers, and local producers, ensure fair competition, and sustain livelihoods.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, based on the Deputy Minister’s reply, I have two supplementary questions.
¶ 02 First, regarding canned fish imports: from 2015 eight companies revived local production, but now they are closing. Para-tariffs have been removed. Diesel prices have risen and there is a tax of Rs. 128 on diesel for fisheries, making imports more profitable than local production. As Deputy Minister, how will you protect both fishers and consumers while safeguarding these eight companies? In 2015, a can cost Rs. 155 and stayed so until 2020; now it is around Rs. 500. With taxes on imports removed, they face severe losses. Can you outline steps to create fair competition and sustain livelihoods?
Provenance
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- Hansard, Tuesday, 17 March 2026 ·No. 23387 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 17 March 2026. No. 23387. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/2956