Experts from the European Union will visit Sri Lanka to assess measures taken by the government in its attempt to overturn an EU ban on imports of fishery products from the island.
“The aim of the delegation will be to review the implementation of EU recommendations. The former Government failed to do it, but we are doing it promptly,” Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ajith Perera said according to the Sunday Times.
The minister said he was "hopeful" that the ban will be lifted within months as the government was taking "immediate and effective" steps to implement recommendations made by the EU.
The visits were planned after Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera's recent trip to Brussels, where he met with the European Commission’s Environment, Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Chief Karmenu Vella.
Sri Lanka promises to comply with fishing rules after UK complaint (13 May 2012)
EU bans fisheries imports from Sri Lanka (14 Oct 2014)
Greenpeace welcomes European ban on Sri Lankan fish (16 Oct 2014)
EU suspends fish imports from Sri Lanka (16 January 2015)
Sri Lanka seeks postponement of EU fish import ban (24 January 2015)