Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation had accumulated heavy losses and debts—about Rs. 1,600 million in liabilities when we took over, including approximately Rs. 700 million due to suppliers (fishermen), and about Rs. 700 million in unpaid EPF/ETF, plus other debts totaling roughly Rs. 1,700 million. We have been stabilizing operations. In July 2025, CFC recorded a profit of about Rs. 3 million, and as at 31st August 2025, about Rs. 10 million profit—first such results in recent times. At a meeting with the Secretary to the Treasury last Monday, we requested two years of support with a commitment to make CFC a sustainably profitable enterprise by 2028. Therefore, reports of closure are entirely false. The Government will not close the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation. Additionally, on 21st November, International Fisheries Day, we plan to introduce a pension scheme for our fishing community.