  
Sri Lanka and Japan have established a bilateral partnership focused on significantly reducing post-harvest losses across Sri Lanka’s fisheries industry. The collaborative initiative is designed to address systemic challenges in fish preservation, storage, and handling from harvest to distribution.
Post-harvest loss remains a critical vulnerability in the marine and coastal fishing sectors, where inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, handling techniques, and processing facilities often lead to substantial product degradation. Through technical cooperation and strategic support from Japan, the program targets improved operational standards across the supply chain to ensure higher yields and enhanced product quality.
Key Focus Areas
- Loss Reduction: Implementing advanced handling and storage practices to minimize catch spoilage before reaching consumer markets.
- Bilateral Cooperation: Leveraging Japanese technical expertise to upgrade local post-harvest infrastructure and operational methods.
- Economic Resilience: Protecting coastal livelihoods and enhancing the market value of domestic fisheries output.
By curbing avoidable losses at sea and during transit, the initiative aims to strengthen national food security, optimize economic returns for local fishing communities, and bolster the long-term sustainability of the island nation’s aquatic resources.