FAO support to develop several fish landing centres

From Left: Project Supervising Engineer Chitral Pandita, CTA Simon Diffey, FAO Representative Patrick Evans, Mr Fernando and Mr Kuruppu representing the contactor at the singning ceremony

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations signed a US$1.1 million (Rs 122 million) contract with Sanken Lanka to support the development of 11 fish landing centres, eight of which are in the Mannar and Mullaitivu districts, plus the construction of a new office for the Department of Fisheries in Mullaitivu.

Implemented by the Canadian funded FAO Restoration and Improvement of Fish Landing Centres with Stakeholder Participation in Management Project, the work is being executed through the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development Ministry.

"This contract is the fourth and our final works contract implemented by the project" says its Chief Technical Advisor, Simon Diffey "and we have over the last 18 months invested close to US$ 2.5 million to support construction work at 45 new or existing fish landing centres." The FAO Project aims to help support improvements in the management of the fisheries sector in line with the "Mahinda Chintana" program through not only the construction and upgrading of small-scale infrastructure but also through the training of government officials and local fishing communities.

Work is expected to be completed at all the fish landing centres by August 2011.