In order to prepare the Annual Research Plan for 2025, NARA conducted a Consultative Forum on 09^th July at NARA auditorium with the participation of its stakeholders in various disciplines of Fisheries, Industries, Academia and Aquatic Resources sector. Sixty participants including Fisheries co-operatives, CBOs’, Fish farmers, Fish processing & export industries, Feed manufactures, Ice factories, and Aquaculture service providers were participated to this occasion.

Department of Coast Conservation & Coastal Resource Management, Department of Irrigation, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation, Geological Survey & Mines Bureau, Chamber of Marine Industries, Merchant Shipping Secretariat, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Universities, Sri Lanka Carp, NARA Sister Organizations’, INGO, and NGOs’ were also graced the forum. Internal participation from NARA also included Governing members, Science & Technical Committee members, and Scientists participated.

1. Goal of the Forum:

The purpose of the forum is being to prepare the NARA Annual Research Plan for 2025 based on stakeholder research priorities. And build up good rapport and collaboration opportunities with stakeholders were also other objectives.

2. Specific Topics Discussed:

Research needs in specific fisheries or aquatic resources sectors addressing NARAs mandatory areas in Management, Development & Conservation were discussed. The forum discussions might have highlighted areas where more research is needed. Further, industry needs and challenges, academic research focus areas were also addressed. NARA could propose research that fills those gaps.

3. Next Steps:

It would be beneficial to understand the next steps after the forum. Will there be, a report summarizing the discussions, opportunities for further stakeholder engagement and finally, a timeline for the 2025 Annual Research Plan will be prepared.

It's crucial for coastal countries like Sri Lanka to have reliable forecasts for fishing, maritime activities, and disaster management. Sri Lanka has been a long-felt gap in its ocean-related affairs, fisheries regulations, safety at sea, disaster warning, and pollution control. The urgency for a robust ocean weather forecasting system in Sri Lanka became glaringly apparent in the aftermath of two recent environmental disasters: the MT New Diamond tanker fire oil spill in the East coast, and the MV X-Press Pearl pollution tragedy in the West coast, which Sri Lanka is still assessing the impact of. With purview to this, NARA recently launched a website for ocean weather forecast which is managed by NARA itself. Having a dedicated ocean weather forecasting website managed by NARA shows a significant step forward in enhancing their capabilities to monitor and predict oceanic conditions. This initiative will likely benefit various sectors that depend on ocean conditions for their operations and safety.

The trilingual website; www.sloceanforcast.org, developed by the University of Western Australia (UWA) over the last two years by means of a grant from the Australian Government, was launched at the Prime Minister’s office at the Temple Trees 18^th June, 2024 headed by Prime Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena. Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Paul Stephens, Professor of Coastal Oceanography at the UWA, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Director General of NARA, Dr. K. Arulananthan, and other NARA Scientists also graced this occasion.

The website is expected to offer the public, and a wide cross section of State Agencies, and this initiative will greatly improve the country's ability to monitor and predict oceanic conditions, which is crucial for several key sectors like the maritime and fishing industries access to high quality ocean weather forecasts, assists in environmental monitoring, advanced warning of storm, surges, tsunamis, and cyclones, coastal erosion control, and disaster response.

The launch of the Sri Lanka Ocean Forecast website holds immense significance for the Island nation, rather than beyond its daily operational benefits but other benefits such as maritime safety (warnings for fishermen and marine traffic of weather) and activities at sea, give advanced warning for aquaculture management, and coastal inundation due to tidal waves. In addition to that such forecasts are also relevant to offshore projects including wind harnessing, deep sea mariculture and that the data can be used by researchers to research coastal and ocean dynamics.

Photo courtesy: https://www.themorning.lk, 22, June 2024

Sri Lanka is the first country in Asia to receive support from the SPACES consortium for the implementation of the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), to which Sri Lanka pledged its commitment in 2022. (SPACES) is partnership that includes the UNEP- WCMC Campaign for Nature, Systemiq, McKinsey and Company, the Moore Foundation, and the Zoma Lab Foundation.

This design effort is facilitated by the Presidential Secretariat with supported by McKinsey, a reputed consultancy group. McKinsey & Company is world’s pre-eminent management consulting firm They have successfully supported several other countries on the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework We have requested McKinsey to support us for 6 months with a diagnostic, project design, financing identification and implementation launch McKinsey’s support is made possible by US-based donors

The role of the McKinsey is to a partner with the government in developing the envisaged roadmap for resource mobilization, implementation, and progress monitoring. Recently, a group of expert from the McKinsey & Co., visited NARA with the idea of sharing knowledge on some of the thrust area that NARA has been working and the GBF project also has identified as critical nature conservation projects in their programme. Those are, Scale up forest and mangrove restoration, Improve health and productivity of river systems, Enhance marine protection Reverse decline in fish stocks and Protect marine mega-fauna. Given its importance, NARA Scientists and McKinsey experts have been involved in some important discussions on how to establish institutional support and partnerships between NARA and McKinsey for the future programme. Building these relationships and collaborations can be key to the success of GBF nature conservation program in Sri Lanka.

Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General, Dr. K. Arulananthan,  Head/Principal Scientist of Marine Biology Division; Dr. R. P.P.K Jayasinghe, Head/Principal Scientist of Inland Aquaculture Division; Dr. P.P.M. Heenatigala, Head/Principal Scientist of Environmental Studies Division, Dr. K.A.S. Weerasekara, Head/Principal Scientist of Fishing Technology Division,  Dr. W.N. C. Priyadarshani, Director (Monitoring & Evaluation)Actg.; Mr. P.A.D. Ajith Kumara, Senior Scientists Ms. Ramani Shirantha, Mr. J.S. Jayanatha and Mr.. U.P.K. Liyanage have participated to this event on behalf of NARA while Ms. Sidhra Admani, Mr. Tim Lenters, Ms.Shalini Corea and Mr Ibrahim Hameem graced this occasion from McKinsey & Company.

World Ocean Day 2024, celebrated on 8^th June with the theme of “Awaken New Depths". This theme aims to address the challenges faced by the oceans and highlight the solutions necessary for their protection and revitalization. The day encourages individuals, communities, and organizations worldwide to participate in activities and events that promote ocean conservation. This includes educational programmes, beach clean-ups, and policy advocacy, all aimed at protecting marine biodiversity and promoting sustainable practices.

NARA has organized three aquatic environment conservation programmes namely, Beach cleanup (Rekawa), Educational (Head office) and Mangrove plantation (Dikovita) to celebrate World Ocean Day last week. NARA Regional Research Center, Rekawa organized a Beach cleanup programme at Rekawa turtle beach with collaboration of Ocean University-Tangalle, Deparment of Wild Life Conservation-Rekawa, Marine Environment Protection Authority-Hambantota and Pradeeshiya Sabha-Tangalle. The main sponsor of the event was Ananthara Peace Heaven Hotel-Tangalle.  All the garbage collected was sorted out in to glass, polythene+plastics, PET, metals, rubber and other non-degradable materials thenr handed over Pradeeshiya Sabha after weighting it.

The second programme was took place at the NARA Head Office in Mattakkuliya involving 82 school children and 5 teachers from Ananda Vidyala, Modera. They were informed about and attended two lectures conducted by NARA scientists on mega-fauna of the sea and marine environment conservation. Additionally, they also watched some documentaries related to the topic. NARA organized a mangrove plantation programme as the third one at Dikovita beach with collaboration of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLASS) –Section D. This programme is mainly initiated by Environmental Studies Division (ESD) and Kapparathota Regional Center and other research divisions of NARA contributed to successfully complete this programme. Nayon Lanka (Pvt) Ltd is facilitated by providing mangrove plants. Also, Seth Sarana Caritas Colombo, and Jetwing Hotels Negombo joined as the sponsors for this programme.

NARA, a renowned research agency, played a pivotal role in shaping the future in aquatic research provide innovative solutions for national development issues in the aquatic resources sector utilizing scientific and technological knowledge & resource base. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) is the Institute who promotes support, and encourages and facilitate enterprises development within Sri Lanka with special emphasis to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector of the country.

In a bustling and dynamic economic environment, the NEDA initiated a groundbreaking programme to elevate technology-based startups in the MSME sector. Through intensive training and the development of crucial skills, attitudes, knowledge, and experiences, NEDA aimed to empower entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital age having buildup a partnership with NARA. Several discussions have been conducted between both parties regarding this matter and a MoU will be signed for this collaboration in future.

As the NEDAs programme unfolded, NARA's scientists showcased their innovative ideas and technical expertise, sparking a wave of creativity and progress. Their groundbreaking creations paved the way for a new era of tech-savvy startups, each one fuelled by a passion for change and a thirst for innovation. NARA's involvement was crucial as they provided the guidance and support needed for these budding entrepreneurs conquered challenges and transformed their dreams into successful ventures, paving the way for a brighter future in the realm of technology and entrepreneurship. Together, both NARA and NEDA can reshaped the landscape of technology, bringing about a revolution that would impact new SME generations to come. This collaboration further aims to provide NARAs’ technical expertise on knowledge base, hand on experiences at its accredited laboratories, valuable resources and information on records management, and other technical aspects to help individual entrepreneurs and clusters better manage their business.

Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General, Dr. K. Arulananthan, Head/Principal Scientist of Socio-economic & Marketing Division; Dr. K.M.L. Amaralal, Head/Principal Scientist of Inland Aquaculture Division; Dr. P.P.M. Heenatigala, Director (Monitoring & Evaluation)Actg.; Mr. P.A.D. Ajith Kumara and Senior Scientist, Post Harvest Technology Division; Mr. Suseema Ariyarathna; have participated to this event on behalf of NARA while Director; Mr. Dhanuka Liyanagamage, Assistant Director (IT); Ms. Oshani G. Bodhiwansa and  Enterprise Promotion Assistant; Ms. Praveena Balesh graced this occasion from NEDA.

Welfare Association of NARA taking initiative to hold a blood donation camps and eye clinic in commemoration of the Vesak Festival. National Blood Bank, Narahenpita and Horizon Opticians were facilitated for the blood donation camp and eye clinic respectively.  NARA staff, Naval officers, University students who are conducting their under graduate and post graduate research projects at NARA, Ocean University students and neighboring people of Mattakkuliya housing scheme were actively participated to this event. In parallel to these events, the Welfare Association has organized a “Vesak Dansala” which gave bread and “Sini sambal” to the participants. Indeed, the combination of events such as the blood donation camp, eye clinic, and the "Vesak Dansala" organized by the Welfare Association truly adds to the spirit of generosity and community during the Vesak Festival. Blood donation camps help save lives, while health camps provide essential medical services to those in need. NARA's efforts in organizing these events demonstrate a commitment to serving the community not only uplifting the living standards through scientific research but also making a positive impact on public health. These initiatives promote acts of kindness and compassion as well as foster a sense of unity and togetherness among NARA staff. It's heartening to see that these acts of kindness, generosity, and community service reflect the essence of compassion, selflessness, and unity that are central to the teachings of Lord Buddha. It's inspiring to see these values being put into practice during such significant occasions.

The S & T committee, as outlined in the NARA Act No. 2 of 1981, is responsible for providing scientific advice, evaluating and monitoring NARA's annual projects, and ensuring that these projects align with NARA's mandate. This committee plays a crucial role in guiding NARA's scientific endeavors and ensuring that they are in line with the organization's goals and objectives. The committee is appointed for a two-year period and is required to convene at least three times per year. This year Committee is comprised with Academia, Industry Professionals, Ministry Representatives, Scientific Committee Representatives and NARA Technical Heads hope to can provide a wide range of expertise and perspectives. Their expertise and dedication will surely contribute to important advancements in the aquatic field in where NARA presently focus on their research and development activities.

Respective Divisional Heads presented NARAs’ Annual Work Plan under three major thematic areas viz Management, Conservation and Development during the S&T Committee Project Evaluation Meeting which was recently, held at NARA. S&T Committee members have identified areas for improvement in NARA's operations as well as project submission format and project progress evaluation criteria. By acknowledging these areas, they shown that NARA can indeed enhance its operations and better serve its stakeholders.

Prof. C. Devadason, Ms. Manisha C. Rajapakshe representing NARA Governing Board, Ms. Irangani Swarnalatha, Deputy Director- Ocean Affairs/ MoF, Ms. N. M. P. S. Nawaratne Assistant Director- Development/ MoF, Dr. Jayantha Waththewidana & Ms. Renuka Priyadarshani representing Scientific Community have participated to this meeting on behalf newly appointed of S&T Committee while Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Chairman, Dr. K. Arulananthan Director General, Dr. (Ms.) G. Ganegama Arachchi, Deputy Director General Research & Development (Actg.) and Technical Division Heads, have participated on behalf of the NARA.

Higher ranked officials from East China Sea Bureau which is  under the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, recently visited NARA in order to developing potential collaborative efforts between two Institutes. The meeting was highly productive, with both NARA and the East China Sea Bureau as recognizing the value of combining their expertise and resources focused on forecasting and early warning systems for marine ecological disasters and fisheries management. Both parties have expressed a strong interest in shared training programmes and workshops for capacity building.

The delegation from the East China Sea Bureau comprised five members viz Mr. Haibo Huang, Director General of East China Sea Bureau, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Xiaodong Deng, Deputy Director of East China Sea Bureau, Ministry of Natural Resources of China Guansuo Wang, Deputy Director of East China Sea Forecasting and Disaster Reduction Center, Ministry of Natural Resources,  Jitang Liu, Director of Nantong Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources and  Yanhong Cai, Director of Ningbo Marine Center, Ministry of Natural Resources. Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General, Dr. K. Arulananthan, Deputy Director General, Dr. (Ms.) G.  Ganegama Arachchi, Heads of Technical Divisions and several other Scientist representing NARA have participated to this occasion.

First Quarter Progress Review Meeting of NARA took place on May 8^th, 2024, at the Board Room of NARA. The meeting was chaired by Miss. K.N.K. Nawarathna, the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries (MoF). This meeting likely involved discussions and assessments of the progress and milestones made by NARA during the first quarter on both treasury funded projects as well as foreign funded projects. The Secretary emphasized the importance of evaluating and discussing the progress in these areas to ensure that everything is aligned with the desired goals. She further pointed out that regular assessment and communication are key to staying on track and achieving success. By leveraging social media and smart devices in these strategic ways, Secretary shown that how effectively disseminate the technical know-how of NARA to a broad and diverse audience, empowering them to understand and engage with the topic in meaningful ways.

Additional Secretaries; Ms. N.A.A.P.S. Nissanka, Ms. Anusha Gokula, Mr. Dhammika Ranathunga and Mr. Kapila Gunarathna, Director General of Department of Fisheries, Mr. Susantha Kahawattha, Director General of Planning Division, Ms. A.H.S. Fareeda, Director General of Engineering, Mr. K.K.A. Piyasena, Chief Financial Officer, Ms. J.A.W. Jayakody, Director Planning (Actg.), Mr. Kapila Bamunuarachchi, Deputy Directors; Mr. Asela Gunarathna (Development) and Ms Imaya Uggalboda (Planning) of MoF, have graced this occasion. Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General, Dr. K. Arulananthan, Deputy Director General Research & Development (Actg.) Dr. G. Ganegama Arachchi, and HoDs of the all divisions have participated to this event on behalf of the NARA.

Dr. K. Arulananthan assumed the position of Director General at NARA on May 7^th, 2024. He has been an integral part of NARA's journey since 1992, serving as a permanent employee. Holding the position of Principal Scientist and Head of the Division at the National Institute of Oceanography & Marine Sciences (NIOMS), Dr. Arulananthan has demonstrated exemplary leadership and expertise in his field.

Dr. Arulananthan's academic journey is a testament to his dedication and passion for oceanography. He embarked on his educational pursuits by earning his first degree with distinction in Geology from the University of Mysore, Indiain 1988. Building upon this foundation, he pursued his first Master of Science in Marine Geology from the University of Mangalore, India, graduating in 1990. Continuing his quest for knowledge, Dr. Arulananthan pursued a second Master of Science in Physical Oceanography from the University of Göteborg, Sweden in 1994. Undeterred by the challenges, he then went on to attain his PhD in Physical Oceanography from the same institution in 2003.

Throughout his academic and professional journey, Dr. Arulananthan has delved into various research fields, contributing significantly to the understanding of coastal oceanographic processes, water exchange in tropical lagoons and estuaries, ocean-atmospheric interaction, heat budget of the ocean, and the impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems. His work stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of oceanography, inspiring future generations of scientists to explore and protect our marine environments.

One day training programme was conducted by Inland Aquatic Resources & Aquaculture Research Division (IARAD) of NARA on hormonal induced breeding at Aquaculture Research Centre (ARC) belong to NARA, recently.

Fifty nine stakeholders from different disciplines of ornamental fish industry viz, fish breeders, collectors, exporters, professionals, beginners, and under graduate university students were participated to this programme. They were given theoretical knowledge and vast individual hands on experience on dosage calculation, preparation of homogeneous hormonal solutions, proper administration to the fish body and observation of post-behavioral changes of fishes during the training session. The training course was conducted by Ms. A.M.A.N Adikari, Scientist and Ms. K.L.W.T. Maduka, Research Assistant with the assistance of supportive staff of IARAD. The participants were given certificates after end of the programme. After receiving more positive feedback from the participants during Q & A session NARA has decided to conduct series of similar training programmes throughout the country in the near future, and this initiative will undoubtedly benefit many individuals and contribute to the growth of aquaculture knowledge and skills nationwide.

As per the memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between NARA and Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO) China in 2017, to conduct a Joint oceanographic expedition, on board training of NARA scientific staff, Joint post-cruise data/lab analysis and bring out several scientific publications already completed. Now both esteemed institutions agreed to carry out research on Ecosystem and marine environment monitoring program in Sri Lanka Coastal waters using R/V Samuddrika; the only marine research platform of Sri Lanka. Here, SIO will provide financial assistance for state of Art oceanographic instruments, weather buoys and sediment trap moorings together with technical support to mount the instruments, data acquisition and processing.

Recently, high ranked officers from SIO lead by Professor Li Hua Ran visited NARA to finalize the list of equipment requirement and fund allocation for R/V Samuddrika’s operation for future surveys. This collaborative approach will enhance capacity of the marine research and survey activities of R/V Samuddrika which is a requirement for addressing climate change issues and other maritime resource surveys.

Chirman; Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General; Dr. T.D.K.D. Tennakoon, Deputy Director General; Dr. (Ms.) G.  Ganegama Arachchi, Project Coordinator; Dr. (Ms.) W.N.C. Priyadarshani and several other officers representing technical divisions have participated to this event on behalf of NARA.

A new Regional Research Center of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) is established on April 05, 2024 at Thelikarei, in Poonaryn Divisional Secretariat in ​​Kilinochchi district. The idea of initiate this center is for conservation, management and development of the aquatic resources sector in the Northern Province in order to get maximum economic benefits to the country.

The Minister of Fisheries Hon. Douglas Devananda, Vanni District Member of Parliament Hon. Thilipan, representatives of the Northern Provincial Councils, District Secretaries of Mannar and Kilinochchi Districts, Additional District Secretary of Jaffna District, Northern Commander NAVY, Rear Admiral K.S.B. Banagoda, Divisional Secretary of Poonaryn DS Division, Governing Board members of NARA, Additional Directors of Department of Fisheries and NAQDA in the Northern Province, Officers from  Forest, Wildlife, Coast Conservation Department  belong to Districts of Mannar, Kilinochchi and Jaffna, representatives from University of  Jaffna and Ocean University branch of Jaffna, were graced this occasion.

Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General, T.D.K.D. Tennakoon, Deputy Director General Research & Development, Dr. G. Ganegama Arachchi, Governing Board Members of NARA, Mrs. Meegahakotuwa and Mr. Aravindan,   and Head of the all Technical and non-Technical Divisions, Scientists and other supporting staff, have participated to this event on behalf of the NARA.

The National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) have been carried out monitoring programme to evaluate the environmental damage caused due to the fire of the X-Press Pearl ship since 2021. As this was the first experience that NARA Scientists experienced, they often had to rely on external facilities for their experiments and analyses due to there were no state-of-the-art laboratory facilities within the NARA as well as in the country to analyze all the parameters required to evaluate the environmental damage, therefore had to get foreign laboratory support frequently. Meanwhile, NARA submitted a project proposal to Asian Development Bank (ADB) seeking assistance for capacity building and infra-structure development. The ADB recognized that the importance of NARA's work on study of ship damage and agreed to provide funding and technical assistance for the project. Accordingly, with ADB and Scripps Institute in the United States of America support, NARA was able to implement their capacity building and infrastructure development initiatives, leading to significant improvements in their environmental damage monitoring programme. Prof. Uwe Send and Prof. Lihini Aluwihare, representing the Scripps Institute, contributed as resource persons of these workshops. The ADB programme was ended recently, being provided the necessary field and laboratory equipment to the NARA Head Office and Regional Research Centers for the formal conduct of the relevant research activities. Prof. Uwe and Prof. Aluwihare, representing the Scripps Institute and Z. A. M. Azmi, National Co-ordinator of the ADB-Scripps Project, have participated to the equipment handing over event while Dr. T.D.K.D. Tennakoon, Director General, NARA Dr. K.W.S.S. Weerasekara, Head, Environmental Studies Division, Dr. W.N.C. Priyadarshani, Head, Fishing Technology Division and NARA Scientists were grace this occasion

Since 2019, the China Academy of Sciences (CAS) has been steadfastly supporting NARA's marine data collection efforts through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration underscores CAS's commitment to advancing oceanic research and highlights NARA's dedication to enhancing marine data acquisition. Together, they are forging new pathways for scientific exploration and understanding of our Indian ocean.

The collaboration between the China Academy of Sciences and NARA to strengthen the marine data collection system is a significant step towards enhancing our understanding of marine ecosystems and promoting sustainable ocean management. By combining their expertise and resources, these two esteemed institutions can work together to improve data collection methods, enhance data accuracy, and expand research capabilities in marine sciences. This partnership has the potential to lead to valuable insights, innovative solutions, and informed decision-making in the field of marine research.

Recreantly, high ranked officers from CAS lead by Mr. Yaping Zhang, Vice President of CAS visited NARA to discuss the future collaborative effort and look forward to the positive impact it will have on advancing the knowledge of the oceans and supporting conservation efforts. Meanwhile, this discussion they paid special attention to the inauguration ceremony and future operation works of newly built Sea Level Monitoring Station at Dondra by which CAS provided financial support.

Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Director General, T.D.K.D. Tennakoon, Deputy Director General Research & Development, Dr. G. Ganegama Arachchi and several other Officers representing technical divisions, have participated to this event on behalf of the NARA.

The CNRS, or the National Center for Scientific Research, is indeed the largest fundamental research organization in France and plays a crucial role in bringing together all scientific disciplines under its umbrella. By encompassing a wide range of fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, humanities, and social sciences, the CNRS fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. This comprehensive approach allows researchers from different backgrounds to work together, exchange ideas, and address complex scientific challenges collectively. The CNRS's commitment to supporting diverse disciplines contributes to the advancement of knowledge and the development of groundbreaking research across various fields. It's truly a remarkable organization that promotes collaboration and excellence in scientific research. This is why the CNRS encourages the sciences to come together in a dialogue that also includes stakeholders from wider society.

Mr. Srini V. Kaveri, representative based in Delhi of the CNRS,  Ms. Aurélie Vollerin, Attachée for Cooperation and Education of the French Embassy and  Olivia Bellemere - Conseillère de Coopération et d’Action Culturelle/ Cultural & Cooperation Counsellor attached to French Embassy, Sri Lanka recently visited NARA with object to build up collaboration with purview to above objectives.

Mr. Kaveri, pointed out that by pooling together diverse expertise and resources, organizations like CNRS and NARA can work together to develop innovative solutions, conduct cutting-edge research, and make a meaningful impact on a global scale. This collaborative approach can lead to new insights, breakthroughs, and advancements in various fields, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future. He encouraged NARA to explore this collaboration further and leverage the strengths of both organizations to tackle pressing global issues effectively.

Chairman, Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe Director General, T.D.K.D. Thennakoon, Deputy Director General Research & Development, Dr. G. Ganegama Arachchi and several other Officers representing technical divisions have participated to this event on behalf of the NARA.

A newly constructed sea level monitoring station was inaugurated on March 26, 2024. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was jointly presided over by Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Chairman of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) and Dr. Yaping Zhang, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The event was attended by Dr. Kamal Thennakoon, Director-General of NARA, department heads, as well as Professor Weigiang Wang, Executive Director of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Research and Education (CSL-CER), University of Ruhuna alongside other officials.

This station was established to strengthen the capabilities of ocean observation in the southern tip of the country, aligning with the objectives of the United Nations’ Ocean Decade 2030, particularly Challenge 7: Expand the Global Ocean Observing System for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

The functionality of the centre fully automated with capability of collect, stove temporary, and transmits data to the head office of NARA via the local communication system by extending existing sea level monitoring network of the country.

The fundamental data collected by these stations can be applied for: Development of coastal infrastructure such as harbours, Jetty, Port cities, breakwater, wastewater management, coastal low laying agricultural land use planning, river mouth management, salt water intrusion, coastal flood, policy planners of disaster management, hydrographical survey, and validating oceanic models. The real-time and near-real-time data are utilized for the prevention and mitigation of ocean-based disasters such as tsunamis, meteo-tsunami, storm surges, and cyclones. Time series data on sea level are useful for quantification of local and regional sea level rise, and seasonal variations with in-depth assessments in relation to the effects of climate change, and phenomena such as El Nino and La-Nino. 

A technical discussion was conducted on 13^th March, 2024 at the NARA boardroom with Scientists from the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), The Republic of China (ROC), and the Scientists of NARA lead by Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Chairman of NARA. During the session, there were several presentations given by both NARA and FIO scientists regarding the global challenges that are currently being faced. These presentations provided valuable insights and information that will aid in the ongoing efforts to address these challenges.

Dr. Dejun DAI, Senior Scientist, Laboratory of Marine Science and Numerical Modeling, conducted a presentation on ‘Climate Disaster Prevention and Reduction System.’ During his presentation, he highlighted that the United Nations’ Ocean Decade 2030, Challenge 7: Expand the Global Ocean Observing System for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

Dr. Chengjun SUN, Director, Marine Bio-resource and Environment Research Center, shared his thought on ‘Marine Ecosystem Health and Micro-plastic Pollution Mitigation.’ Mrs. Kishara Bandaranayake, Senior Scientist, Marine Biological Resources Division, shared findings on ‘Ecosystem Health Management and Marine Ecosystem whil ’ Mr. Damith Perera, Scientist, NARA shared his findings on ‘Coastal Water Chemistry around Sri Lanka,’ K.W. Indika, Scientist NARA shared the importance and progress of Joint Research Investigation on ‘Sea Level and Early Warning System’ as an Island state country. Prof. Fangli QIAO, Deputy Director of First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, and former member of the Ocean Decade’s Executive Planning Group (2018-2021) and then Decade Advisory Board (2021-2023), explained potential collaboration for Ocean Science for sustainable development.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USAID and NARA was signed recently, on Fisheries Post Harvest Modernization and Resilient (FPMR) Project under USAID – In Kind Grant (IKG) at NARA Head Office. It is evident that empowering the community with knowledge and skills is crucial for sustainable practices and growth in the fishing industry. With purview to this, the project aims to reduce the impacts of climatic changes on the Maldive fish and dried fish industries in Southern Province and ensure the steady production throughout the year. Development of a single unit for fish smoking and drying powered by biomass burning for Maldives fish production, dissemination of technical know-how to the fisher community through awareness & training programmes, disbursement of Maldives fish smoker & utensils for beneficiaries and establishment of proper marketing channel for the final products are the objectives of this project. Dr. N. Kumarasinghe (Chairman), Mr. S. Ariyarathne, Ms. P. Ginigaddarage (Senior Scientists of Institute of Post Harvest Technology (IPHT)) and Mr. Nick Hobgood (Chief of Party- Climate Adaptation Project) represented NARA and USAID respectively, for signing the MoU.

Two day educational workshop for the NARA Junior Scientists’ fellowship programme was held on 4^th and 5^th March 2024 at the NARA auditorium. Fifty-six students and 11 teachers from 11 schools including Visakha Vidyalaya, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Nalanda College, Mahanama College, Asoka Vidyalaya etc., took part in this event. The main objective of this workshop was to make students aware of the fellowship programme that is to be held for 9-month period, starting from April 2024. The planned two-day workshop was an abstract of the entire fellowship programme funded by the International Ocean Institute (IOI). Participated students were very keen on attending the planned lectures and field trip to the R/V ‘Samuddrika’ Research Vessel, and were actively engaging with the group activities they were assigned to. Overall the event was a success and received positive feedback from all students and the teachers. This educational programme was a resounding success, and the students were grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a enriching and fulfilling experience. They left the programme feeling inspired and motivated to continue their pursuit of knowledge and learning.

Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, Chairman, Dr. T.D.K.D. Tennakoon Director General, Dr. G. Ganegama Arachchi, Deputy Director General, Heads of the Technical divisions, Scientists were participate to this event representing NARA while Mr. Vipula Kulathunga, Deputy Director of Science Promotion Section was attend the programme representing Ministry of Education.

It is evident that operation and maintenance of effective fish farming system can increase the income of the fisher community. NARA has taken efforts to uplift the living standards of rural communities in the Rekawa lagoon area through sustainable use of coastal water resources and the establishment of sea bass cage farming with active community participation. The successful harvests of the first culture trial, with the fishes have reached sizes of 650 g – 750 g which is plateble size commonly served at hoteliers. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication put into the project with both NARA Rekawa Regional Research Center (RRC) staff and the community. Regular monitoring of environmental parameters in the Rekawa lagoon was crucial for the success and sustainability of these efforts. As a result of that they were able to maintain the survival rate around 75%. This initiative not only promotes livelihood activities but also aims to achieve food security and improved nutrition in the riparian villages surrounding Rekawa lagoon. NARA expects to map productive zones of the lagoon for further expansion of the sea bass aquaculture in terms of productivity and nutrients.

Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe, has officially assumed duties as the new Chairman of NARA today, 28^th February, 2024. A brief ceremony was held at the Head office of NARA with the participation of State Minister of Fisheries Hon. Piyal Nishantha de Silva, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Fisheries Ms. Anusha Gokula Fernando, Dr. T.D.K.D. Tennakoon Director General, Heads of Divisions and other officials of NARA.

Dr.  Kumarasinghe, as a research scientist, has worked in various Government Research Institutes for 35 years, conducting and managing researches including Director, Sugarcane Research Institute, Chairman, Institute of Post-Harvest Technology, and Chairman, Sugarcane Research Institute. He was a consultant in the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Sri Jayewardenapura and consultant Director of the Ministry of Minor Export Crop Promotion.  Also, he served on a number of national committees, including the Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee (Petac) and the National Species Conservation Committee of the Bio Diversity Secretariat. Dr. Kumarasinghe serve as a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, SL Institute of Agriculture, the Afro Asian Society of Nematologists, and the Institute of Biology SL. Currently, I have been serving as the representative member of the Agriculture sector at the Executive Committee of the Organization of Professional Associations' (OPA), Council member at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) and the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and the Board Member of the Post Graduate Institute of English in OUSL.

That is an impressive and extensive background and experience in the field of research and agriculture. Dr. Nimal Kumarasinghe's wealth of experience and involvement in various organizations and committees will surely be valuable in his new role as the chairman of NARA. His diverse expertise and contributions to the field will likely contribute to the growth and success of the organization.

The staff of the National Aquatic Resource Research and Development Agency (NARA) began their duties for the year 2024 under the guidance of the Director General of NARA at the NARA premises this morning, on the 1st of January 2024.

Ministry of Fisheries is conducted a Fisheries Mobile Service with the assistance of its sister- in organizations DFAR, NARA, NAQDA, Cey-Nor, CFHC and CFC. This event was held at Gurunagar in Jaffna on 19.12.2023. Hon. Douglas Devananda, Minister of Fisheries, Hon. Piyal Nishantha State Minister of Fisheries, Ms. Indu Rathnayake, Secretary of the MoF, Additional Secretaries, Chairman NARA, Prof. M. J. S. Wijeyaratna, Director General

NARA, Dr. T.D.K.D. Thennakoon, other Institutional Heads and government officials graced this occasion. NARA Scientists here exhibited theirs role & services provide to fisheries and aquculture sector.