Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-10-17

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks

- Sri Lanka being a party to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, since 1993 is bound to ensure the protection of the migratory wild animals listed in this Convention within the territorial waters of the country. This Convention favours the signing of International and Regional Level MoUs between the Governments covering the migratory animal species or groups.

As such, a proposal has been made to sign a MoU regarding the conservation of the migratory sharks at the stakeholders Convention scheduled to be held in Philippines from 22nd to 28th of October 2017. The said MoU will be helpful in providing opportunities for sources of financial and technical assistance for the conservation of migratory sharks. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, to sign the MoU on behalf of Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.