New orna fish breeding center
 

by Anjana Samarasinghe

A new ornamental fish breeding and training centre in Rabbodagala commenced its operations recently.

A senior official of Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said that the new ornamental fish breeding and training centre will provide training and technical assistance to entrepreneurs in the ornamental fish industry. The Institute will also provide ornamental fish in its nurseries for entrepreneurs at concessionary prices. These entrepreneurs will be guided by the training institute till the fish are ready for export.

The breeding and training center will purchase ornamental fish from small scale entrepreneurs and export them to countries like Japan, Germany and Sweden. Even large scale exporters can purchase ornamental fish from the centre to fulfil their export requirements, he said.

This is a ten-day residential training program and 25 participants will participate in the first training program, he said.

The project being funded by Asian Development Bank and the ministry expects to open another breeding and training centre in the Hambantota district.

Through this project the Ministry hopes to increase ornamental fish exports and find easy access for small scale entrepreneurs to the international market, the official said.