Jaffna Peninsula fishing industry is still unable to reach the amount of catch that used to be caught in the pre 1983 times, despite the removal of restrictions to fishing in Northern waters, which was imposed for nearly three decades. According to a hand book released a week ago, by the fisheries circle, for the year 2016, in the peninsula prior to the tensions in the area 48,677 metric tonnes of fish was caught.

The fishing activities declined sharply, with the restrictions imposed in the Northern waters following the Tamil militant activities. However, with the removal of restrictions soon after the end of the war in 2009, the fishing activities began to improve gradually in the peninsula and the amount of fish caught in 2015 remained at 31,767 metric tonnes with nearly 16,000 tonnes less than the amount netted in 1983, sources said.

The new hand book on fishing activities in the peninsula also indicated, that the Myliddy fishing village which is a major fishing area with a fishing harbour remaining largely within the High Security Zone, and the displacement of thousands of villagers from Myliddy had also created an impact in the decline in the amount of fish caught in the peninsula.

According to the hand book, 22,119 fishermen from 21,117 fishing families are engaged in fishing in Jaffna. The latest statistics on fishing activities in the peninsula, show the number of fishing villages in the peninsula as 110, the total number of fishing boats - 8010, fishing harbours- 6, Ice factories- 7 , fish processing factories - 3, rural fishing societies - 93, fisheries inspectors division - 14.

While refuting claims by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that his government had allocated funds required to increase public sector salaries, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that no such funds had been allocated.

A Fundamental Rights petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking an order preventing Ranjan Ramanayake from contesting the parliamentary election scheduled for November 14.

Claiming that Sri Lanka has come a long way in terms of undertaking reforms which have led to some hard won gains, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)said they could move fast towards the third review which will come up soon.

The Election Commission has decided to mark the voters' index fingers for this year's general elections, Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake announced. He said the elections are scheduled for November 14, 2024.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to hold a series of meetings with the High Commissioners of South Africa and New Zealand, along with the Ambassadors of Iran and Myanmar, as well as a delegation from the European Union today (25) at the Presidential Secretariat.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the security threats to Israeli nationals in the Arugam Bay area, Public Security Minister Vijitha Herath said.

Sri Lanka should get its foreign policy right in the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman said today.

The Canadian government has issued a travel advisory urging travellers to exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to demonstrations, the threat of terrorist attacks and crime, particularly in the Arugam Bay area.

Sri Lankan security forces have been alerted to a potential attack on Israelis in the Arugam Bay area by Indian intelligence agencies. According to intelligence information, the threat is believed to be targeted at foreign nationals.

Former Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara asked why the government did not take action to beef up security for foreign tourists in advance if it had received information on a possible threat on October 7, according to the statement made by Acting Chief of Police.