SLRCS donates boats to affected fishermen

THE Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) distributed fishing boats to 125 fishermen affected by tsunami in Colombo, Matara, Puttalam, Trincomalee and Kalutara districts at Ratmalana recently. The boats were manufactured at a boat manufacturing project launched by the SLRCS.

The beneficiaries also received engines and fishing nets along with the boats, which costs Rs. 3 lakhs each at current market price. The boats have been manufactured -according to standards stipulated by the Fisheries Ministry using the local manpower.

Launched in September 2005, the boat-manufacturing project is earmarked to manufacture 550 boats by September 2006. This project is made possible by a grant of $ 1.6 million by the Taiwan Red Cross Organisation to Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

The project also includes training persons from tsunami-affected families in the field of boat repairing.