On September 20, 2025, Sri Lanka's Fisheries Ministry launched a nationwide campaign to address the growing threat of invasive fish species, particularly the giant snakehead and piranha, to local freshwater ecosystems. The campaign included a fishing competition at the Deduru Oya reservoir, where over 1,000 anglers were encouraged to catch these predatory fish. The Ministry has banned the import, sale, and transportation of these species, giving current owners three months to register their fish. Despite the challenges of catching these aggressive fish, the event aimed to remove them from the environment and control their population. The top prize of 20,000 rupees was awarded to a successful angler, highlighting the potential for tourism benefits from this initiative. The Fisheries Ministry hopes that by engaging the public, they can effectively manage the invasive species threatening native aquatic life.