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| Friday, 25 April 2003 |
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by Ravi Ladduwahetty A long-term collaborative research project on the marine mammals of Sri Lanka has now been undertaken with collaboration with the Tokyo University. Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda recently met with a team of leading Japanese scientists led by Prof. Noburu Miyazaki of the Tokyo University. The marine domain will be integrated with Sri Lanka's new development strategy, Minister Moragoda has told the Japanese team of scientists, which he said, was a part of a programme of reviving whale watching aimed at gaining a market share of the multi million dollar whale watching industry. Professor Miyazaki is Japan's leading Japanese marine mammal scientist who heads the research at the Ousuchi Marine Research Centre of the Tokyo University. He was in Sri Lanka last year on an exploratory visit arranged by the Indian Ocean Marine Affairs Co-operation (IOMAC) Secretariat to explore prospects for collaborative research through the Centre for Research on Indian Ocean Marine Mammals (CRIOMM) based in Sri Lanka. They met with Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando who encouraged them to establish scientific ties with Sri Lanka during their visit last year. Professor Miyazaki is a Member of the International Advisory Panel of CRIOMM. Two Japanese scientists from the Ousuchi Centre, Dr. Masao Amano and Tohshiya Kudo recently commenced preliminary surveys in Sri Lanka as part of a longer-term programme to monitor whales and smaller marine mammals such as dolphins in the seas around Sri Lanka. They will use advanced methods of scientific research such as using electronic technology for tracking whales to observe their behaviour. They are also collaborating with the National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) to help study whale and dolphin skeletons and other data, as well as to set up long-term collaboration and assist in training local scientists. |
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