A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for supply of 430 Electric Motor Bikes to field officers in the fisheries sector was signed by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Mr. Santosh Jha and Secretary to Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources – Dr. B.K. Kolita Kamal Jinadasa. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources – Ramalingam Chandrasekar.
Under the MoU, and upon the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of India will provide grant assistance of SLR 265 million to supply electric motor bikes to field officers of various institutions including the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NAQDA), and National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

The deployment of these electric motorbikes will enhance the operational capabilities, efficiency and field-level presence of fisheries officials. By facilitating faster response times, and regular engagement with fishing communities, the initiative aims to improve public service delivery across Sri Lanka.  The initiative also contributes to the environmental sustainability pillar of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ program envisioned by President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake.The Indian High Commission notes that India’s people-centric development cooperation initiatives, based on the needs of the people of Sri Lanka and the priorities of the Government of Sri Lanka, continue to make a tangible difference in daily lives of the people in all the 25 districts of the country across sectors such as housing, health, education, fisheries, transport, renewable energy, livelihood sustenance, agriculture, among many others.