Houses, insurance and pension schemes for fishermen

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

"The Fisheries Ministry will provide houses, insurance and pension schemes for all fishermen and their families within the next five years," Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said.

"We have taken several measures to uplift the fisheries communities livelihoods by giving loans to reconstruct their homes, providing modern vessels and fishing gear and introducing new loan schemes," the minister said.

Dr Senaratne was addressing the National Fisheries Federation's (NFF) District Representatives Organization's meeting at the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) recently.

Over 150 representatives from District Fisheries Organizations participated in the ceremony where the minister distributed documents of the new insurance scheme among them.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry Secretary Dr Damitha de Soysa, minister's public pelation's officer Premasiri Perera and NAQDA chairman Jayantha Chandrasoma also participated.