Sri Lanka has increased its annual fish export revenue from $ 285 million to $ 315 million, with the Government targeting $ 600 million in export earnings by 2030, Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar said.

Addressing a Parliamentary debate on developments in the country’s export sector on 3 October, the minister said the fisheries sector was being given special attention as part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen exports and increase foreign exchange earnings.

He said the country had earned Rs 68.889 billion (Rs 6,888.9 crore) through fish exports over the past two years, adding that the Government was implementing several programmes to improve production capacity, make better use of available marine resources and expand export markets.

With the National People's Power (NPP) Government approaching its second anniversary in office, significant steps had been taken to rebuild the economy and improve the country's export performance, he said.

"The export sector is crucial to determining the country's economic future and the living standards of its 22 million people," the minister said.

He added that increasing fish export earnings while improving the livelihoods of fishing communities remained a key Government priority. Better utilisation of fisheries resources and increased productivity would contribute both to national economic growth and higher incomes for fishing families.

Responding to criticism from the Opposition over the country's economic progress, Chandrasekar said those criticising the current administration should also remember the damage caused by corruption, fraud and abuse of power under previous administrations.

He said the Government's objective was to overcome the shortcomings of the past and place all sectors of the economy on a positive growth trajectory.