Ornamental aqua-plant tissue laboratory opened in Rambodagalla

Shirley Wijesinghe

An ornamental aqua- plant tissue culture laboratory has been opened in Rambodagalla costing Rs. 45 million.

The funding is provided through the Bank financial assistance programme related to aquatic resources development and quality improvement project coming under the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

The main objective of this laboratory is to provide required tissue culture technology for growers of ornamental plants for the export market and displaying economical viability of ornamental aqua-plants which can multiply through the tissue culture technology.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera said that plants grown using under the tissue culture technology could help develop the rural economy once the technology is introduced at village level.

''The Government hopes to increase the number of job opportunities at village level and earn more foreign exchange through exporting colorful and qualitative ornamental aqua-plants.

The laboratory will fulfill the long-felt requirement of stakeholders of the ornamental aqua- plants sector'', Minister Perera said.

The laboratory project is running as a joint-venture of Serandib Horticulture Technologies Pvt. Ltd and the Sri Lanka Aqua Culture Development Authority under the guidance of the aquatic resources development and quality improvement project of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.