The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today called for the collective commitment of the Asian political leadership to overcome the challenges faced by fisheries and aquaculture at present. Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the 5th Food and Agriculture Organization's Ministerial Meeting on Aquaculture for the Asia-Pacific Region this morning in Colombo, he stressed for the need for policy initiatives such as better trading standards, removing non-tariff barriers and eliminating unfair trading practices for the welfare of the fish farmers. Elaborating on the issue of compliance with various international trading standards that is a serious problem faced by developing countries and small scale farmers, the President said there is a need to address this situation politically. He said the best results come when farmers, especially, the small holders are empowered technologically and politically. 250 representatives from 18 countries, including India are participating in the two-day meeting. Briefing the media earlier, Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that the meeting is being held to make political commitment about future development of aquatic culture in the region, coordinating regional activities, improvement of regional cooperation in aquaculture, development of aquaculture for food security and raising the nutritional level of the people in the region.