Sayura FM dedicated to fisheries community - minister

Ridma Dissanayake

Sayura FM is the world's first radio channel dedicated to the fisheries community and currently it has become an international radio channel, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne said. Sayura establishes connections among fishermen in the sea and their families who await fathers and husbands, ashore. It also gives pleasure and knowledge to the fisheries community as well, he said.

The minister was addressing the first anniversary celebrations ceremony of Sayura FM held at the Ananda Samarakoon Auditorium at the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), recently.

This radio channel was inaugurated according to a concept of Minister Senarathne with the aim of providing pleasure and knowledge to the fisheries community to which SLBC chairman Hudson Samarasinghe extended his full cooperation.

"The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry sponsors the programme which broadcasts daily from midnight to 4.00 am. Sayura FM was established with the aim of providing information, knowledge and guidance to the fisheries community on weather conditions and it has helped fishermen who are in the deep sea to communicate with their families, from its inception last year", Minister Senarathne said.

"This radio channel has also helped the fisheries community to acquire knowledge on modern technology in the fisheries field and provides guidance to fishermen to increase their fish harvest using modern methods. Sayura FM will usher a great change in the fisheries field" the Minister added.

SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasinghe, the Ministry's Additional Secretary Shantha Bandara, SLBC Director General Samatha Weleweriya and Sayura FM Chief Coordinator Narendra Rajapaksa were also present at the ceremony.