Transform ocean into a lucrative resource - President

Mahinda P.Liyanage, Galle Daily News Correspondent

“It is a big disgrace for us to import canned fish for our consumption spending billions of rupees as an island nation while endowed with a resourceful ocean around the country “, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President was addressing a gathering following the opening of the first ever state fish canning factory of Sri Lanka in Galle yesterday.

The first fish canning factory established and operated as a joint venture between the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation and Happy Food Lanka (Pvt.)Ltd located in the Galle Fisheries Harbour is the first cannery out of three such proposed state industries.

“We should strive to end the imports of not only canned fish or connected processed fish products, but, all such commodities which can be produced and grown in this fertile soil of ours”, the President further said.

The President said owing to the great deal of encouragement and concessions given by the government to the agriculture sector, the country is by now satisfactorily self sufficient in rice and maize as well. But it is regrettable that we still import many agricultural products, such as, green gram, onion and even kurakkan which are conventional food crops of the country. We have to end this practice of maintaining the dependable economic practice.

The President said, the opening of the first ever state cannery in Galle is a commendable fulfillment of the profound objective of transforming the ocean into a lucrative resource as envisaged in the Mahinda Chintanaya. ”I was pleased to hear that almost 80 per cent of the government’s anticipated goals with regard to the Fishery Industry have been accomplished by now as revealed by Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Rajitha Senaratne”, the President said.

“With the progress of the fish canning industry, we would be able to end the import of canned fish to the country, thereby saving a massive amounts in foreign exchange. Further, the new cannery will be a boon to the fishery community and the people as well. It would encourage the fishing industry. I hope all officials and authorities responsible for the uplift of the fishery industry should work with proper understanding about the needs and aspirations of the fishery community. I also expect that the other two proposed fish canning factories would also be soon established,” the President said.

It is also an encouraging fact that the private investors of this joint venture are all native entrepreneurs of Galle. Our government at all times and in every way is prepared and dedicated to providing all the encouragement and support for the promotion of local industry.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources minister Rajitha Senaratne also spoke.Fisheries Corporation Deputy Chairman Shantha Herath delivered the welcome address. Senior Minister Piyasena Gamage, Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, Galle District Parliamentarians Dr. Ramesh Pahirane, Nishantha Mutuhettigama, Manusha Nanayakkara, Fisheries Corporation chairman Mahil Senaratne, Happy Cook Lanka Food (Pvt) Limited chairman L.D. Pathirage, Galle Mayor Methsiri De Silva, Galle M.M.C’s, Galle District Pradeshiiya Sabha chairmen and a large crowd were present.