National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka Act, No. 53 of 1998.

The Authority is established under section 2 as a body corporate administered and managed by a Board of Directors. Eight Directors shall be appointed by the Minister and list of government officials are appointed ex-officio (sect. 3). Members of Parliament and members of Principal Councils or of a local authority are disqualified from being appointed as Director (sect. 4). Directors may be removed from office by the Minister without assignment of any reason therefor. The Chairman shall be appointed by the Minister from among the members of the Board (sect. 5). The Board shall meet at least every month. The principal functions of the Authority shall be to: develop aquatic resources and the freshwater and marine aquaculture industry with a view of increasing fish production in Sri Lanka, to create employment in the sector, and to promote farming of high valued fish species for exportation. The Authority shall also have regard to environmental sustainability of the development through environmental friendly aquaculture programmes, and to biodiversity, and shall act as importer, exporter, seller, supplier, and distributor of aquatic resources (sect. 11). In order to fulfill these functions the Authority may, inter alia: establish and manage aquaculture centres, create joint ventures, conduct resource surveys, assist entrepreneurs in the sector, etc. (sect. 12). The Board shall appoint a Director-General of the Authority (sect. 13). The Authority shall have its own Fund in which fees and charges and other moneys received by the Authority, including government funds, shall be paid. The Board shall furnish to the Minister all information relating to activities or financial position of the Authority as he may call for (sect. 27). The Minister may also give directions to the Board as to the discharge of powers and functions of the Authority and the Minister may order investigation into the activities of the Authority (secs 28 and 29). Section 32 provides for power of delegation to the Chairman of the Board or one of its Directors, whereas section 32 gives the Authority power to require information from any persons useful or necessary for the discharge of functions. No suit or prosecution shall be initiated against the Authority or one of its officers for acts done in good faith (sect. 36). The Minister may make Regulations in respect of the management of aquaculture and aquatic resources and all other matters for which regulation is required or authorized under this Act. Terms used in this Act shall have the same meaning as in the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act (No. 2 of 1996).