Greenpeace has welcomed the ban placed on imports of fisheries products from Sri Lanka, after the country failed to co-operate in the fight against illegal fishing, said the organisaiton.

The environmental NGO said Sri Lanka had “failed to co-operate in the global fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing".

Welcoming the decision, Saskia Richartz, Greenpeace EU oceans policy director said,

“The EU is a major market for seafood products from all over the world. It has a duty to protect the environment and consumers and improve labour standards, regardless of whether it is producing its own seafood or buying it from others. Where diplomatic efforts fail, the EU is right to ban the imports of products from countries like Sri Lanka that fail to manage their fisheries properly.”

Sri Lanka was previously Europe’s second biggest importer in the sector.

The Sri Lankan military has dismissed the No Fire Zone documentary, as “rubbish”, in response to the International Emmy Awards nomination the documentary received earlier this week.

Spokesperson, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said the movie, directed by Callum Macrae was 'nothing but a sensational piece of falsehood,' Ceylon Today reported.

"I am not an artiste to view his piece of 'art' but all what is can say it's a piece of rubbish work and he is nominated for it with a vested interest,