Tourist zones affiliated to fisheries harbours soon

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry will set up Tourist Zones affiliated to fisheries harbours islandwide, said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne.

The Ministry will take action to convert Beruwela to an economic zone.

“This will help attract tourists to Sri Lanka and develop those areas,” he added.

Dr Senaratne was addressing a meeting at the Beruwela fisheries harbour recently.

“A large number are working as professional fisheries technicians at the Beruwela fishery harbour,” he said.

They have identified the immediate need to reconstruct boats, engines and other fisheries equipment,” the Minister said.

The Minister said that the Beruwela fisheries harbour will be developed as a tourism harbour where an aquarium, a museum, an exhibition centre, a training centre, and a boat factory will be set up.

“This will provide more than 1,000 job opportunities to youth,” Dr Senaratne said.

The Fisheries Ministry has taken measures to strengthen each and every sector in the fishery industry.

The Ministry has taken steps to develop fishery harbours while providing basic facilities, repairing and rebuilding harbours, he added.

Dr Senaratne noted that the Ministry has taken various steps to uplift the living standards of fishermen.

Colombo National Hospital Deputy Director Dr Sujatha Senaratne, Ministry Secretary Prof Damitha de Zoysa, Ceylon Fisheries Corporation Chairman Maheel Senaratne and Ceylon Fishery Harbour Corporation Managing Director Lal Samarasinghe also participated.