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Rs. 300 million master plan for coast conservation

from W. D. M. Karunaratne, Wennappuwa Central group correspondent

The construction work of a master plan and the project attached to it will commence in November this year. The project covering the area from Wennappuwa, Kolinjadiya upto Payagala will bring much relief to the fishing villages of the coastal zone covered by the project, said Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Mahinda Wijesekera addressing a janahamuwa held at the auditorium of the Divisional Secretariat, Wennappuwa.

Minister Wijesekera accompanied by Puttalam district parliamentarians Mary Larine Perera and Sugath Tissera, former Minister of Fisheries Festus Perera and a team of high officials from the Ministry made an official inspection tour of the fishing villages in Wennappuwa electorate subjected to serious sea erosion. Minister Wijesekera disclosed that the Rs. 300 million project will be funded by the ADB under the West Coast Development and Conservation project.

He said he was shocked and shaken by the destruction and devastation caused to fishing villages in the Wennappuwa electorate by the recent violent and rapacious sea erosion.

The Minister instructed the officials to take immediate action to construct a 150 unit fisheries housing scheme for resettling the fishermen whose houses were damaged by sea erosion.

He also promised a modern anchorage for Wennappuwa Ulhitiyawa with all facilities.

The Minister said the coastline is a precious national asset of the country. Many parts of the coastal zone is prone and fragile to sea erosion. The coastline is the main hub of the tourist industry in Sri Lanka. It is the lifeline of the fishing community and the industry. He emphasised foreign aid and the application technologies are vital to conserve our coast. He assured that the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources will resort to all possible strategies in protecting and conserving coastal frontages affected by sea erosion.

The inspection tour and the janahamuwa were organised by Parliamentarians Mary Larine Perera and Sugath Tissera and former Minister of Fisheries Festus Perera.

Project Director Lalith Hettiarachchi, Director General of the Coast Conservation Department R. A. D. B. Samaranayake and Asst. Secretary G. Handisoma and others also spoke.

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