Multi-day vessels for Northern fishermen
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
"The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry will take
immediate measures to provide and build multi-day fishing vessels and
fisheries harbours which are essential to use multi-day fishing vessels
in the Northern Province,said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne.
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Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne handing over a
fishing vessel to fishermen in the Kilinochchi district.
National Aquaculture Development Authority chairman Jayantha
Chandrasoma, Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation chairman
Amal Senalankadhikara and Cey-Nor Managing Director Ujith
Anuradha were also present. |
"The Northern Province had been badly damaged by the war and
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken measures to rebuild the North
under the "Uthuru Vasanthaya" programme. It will help to uplift the
livelihoods of the Northern community.
"The seafish catch in Kilinochchi which was only 507 metric tons in
the past few years has today increased to 1200 metric tons. It is one of
the greatest achievements of the fishery industry, he said.
The minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the
Kilinochchi District fisheries association recently.
"President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed me to develop the
country's fisheries industry and I have another responsibility to uplift
fisheries communitie's livelihoods as well. In fulfillment of this I
will take immediate measures to construct and reconstruct all the
fisheries harbours in the North and provide all the other infrastructure
facilities to the community", the minister said.
Over 4200 fisher families in Kilinochchi district and over 3900
persons have been directly engaged in the fisheries industry. There are
410 fibre glass boats, 185 Wallam and 38 fisheries ports in the
Kilinochchi district.
The total fisher community in the Kilinochchi district is more than
16,800.
"We won the civil war two years ago and today we have to face another
war. That is the economic war and all parts of the country have a great
role to play on the way to development.
"We all should get together as one nation to build a prosperous
country for our next generation.", Minister Senaratne said.
Kilinochchi District Member of Parliament Chandrakumar,Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources Development Ministry Additional Secretary Shantha
Bandara, Private Secretary to the minister Colin Fernandopulle and
Public Relations Officer Premasiri Perera also participated.
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