Maldive fish factory in Kalutara
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.Rajitha
Senaratne stated that the first Maldive fish factory will be opened in
the Kalutara district soon.
A businessman from Japan had agreed to provide funds to set up the
factory and the agreements to this will be signed within a month.
This will be established in the Kalutara industrial zone. According
to the minister Sri Lanka imports 6,000 to 8,000 metric tons of Maldive
fish annually and at the market price of a kilo of Maldive fish is
around Rs. 2,000. The Minister expressed hopes that the consumers would
be able to purchase Maldive fish at half the price after this factory
was set up. Currently Sri Lanka earns Rs.21 million by the exporting
fish products and spends Rs. 14 million to import the Maldive fish and
other fish products.
The Maldive fish production factory will add another $400 million
foreign exchange to the country, the minister further said. |