Work on Dickowita fisheries harbour to begin in 2008

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: The construction of the Dickowita Fisheries Harbour will commence in January next year, Acting Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Neomal Perera said.

Addressing journalists at the weekly press briefing at the Government Information Department in Narahenpita, Minister Neomal Perera stated that the construction of this long-awaited fisheries harbour in Dickowita was a great victory for over 6000 fisher-folk who will benefit immensely from it.

The Dickowita fisheries harbour is to be built at a cost of Rs.600 million, with half of it coming as a Grant from the government of Netherlands.

“The harbour will be of international standard with all modern facilities on par with the fisheries harbour of Penang in Malaysia.

Following the construction of the harbour, the historic ‘Dutch Canal’ will also be renovated to tap its tourist potential with the aid of the Dutch government,” he said.

Minister Perera said the St. John’s Market had been shifted to Peliyagoda to facilitate the fishing industry at retail and wholesale level, in a more meaningful manner to benefit the consumer and the fishing community.

He further said that the 35,000 odd fishing boats inclusive of the multi-day crafts will benefit tremendously by the ministry’s envisaged plans of providing satellite-based ‘Fish Finders’ to enable them to locate in latitude and longitude, fertile areas of fishing in the deep sea.

These processes would boost the fishing community and the country’s economy as well, by an enhanced catch of the ‘Tuna’ fish which is rising in value by around 15 per cent annually in the world market.

He added that on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s request, the ‘Guaranteed Price’ for 18 varieties of fish will be formulated shortly for the well-being of the fisheries community.