Diyawara Diriya scheme launched

Ridma Dissanayake

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry had made all arrangements to make the fishery industry the leading industry in the country, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senarathne.

As a result of that Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry had launched the "Diyawara Diriya" loan scheme with the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) and the Bank Of Ceylon (BOC). This loan scheme is for the whole fishery community, he added.

Minister Senarathne was addressing the "Diyawara Diriya" loan scheme launching ceremony at the NAQDA auditorium yesterday (07).

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry signed the agreement with the Norwegian government to increase the number of multi-day fishing boats from 3,150 to 5,000, he noted.

"We hope to eradicate malnutrition from Sri Lanka by 2013 while increasing the per capita fish consumption to 21.9 kg.

We have established over 80 fisheries cooperation's fish stalls islandwide to support it. We hope to triple fish production and double the inland fish production as well," Minister said.

The BOC had agreed to provide loans at a 12 percent interest rate. The Ministry will pay the bank four percent of the interest to ease the burden on the fisher folk and they will be settling only 8 percent interest to the BOC, he further noted.

The Minister noted that no credit facilities will be given to those using banned equipment.

The BOC has allocated Rs 1 billion to this loan scheme, said BOC Chairman Gamini Wickramasinghe.

The BOC will provide loans to buy new boats, engines, fishery equipment, to purchase motor bikes and boxes to selling fish and to develop aquaculture, he said.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame, Ministry's Secretary Dr Damitha De Soysa, NAQDA Chairman, General Manager, Additional Secretaries, other related officers and BOC officials participated.