Another eleven fisheries harbours to boost industry

Ridma Dissanayake

"Another eleven fisheries harbours are to be constructed in Sri Lanka with the aim of developing the country's fisheries industry," Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said in Hambantota.

"This will bring the total number of fisheries harbours in the country to 29. Four out of them will be established in Gandara, Gurunagar, Silawaturai and Kalametiya," the minister said.

Construction activities and infrastructure facilities at other anchor lodges, boat landing centres and fisheries harbours, including Kudawella, Puranawella, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Beruwala and Dikkowita harbours, will be upgraded," he added. The minister was addressing a special meeting at Hambanthota to hand over completed development projects to the public.

Minister Senaratne handed over 14 reconstructed houses for fisheries families and also opened the newly constructed road system in the Hambanthota fisheries village.

The new office of the Hambanthota Fisheries Organization was also opened by the minister at the fisheries harbour premises.

The International Funds for Agricultural Develop ment (IFAD) Project spent around US Dollars10 million on these development projects.

"Creating new employment opportunities, boosting fish production, increasing the number of fishing vessels and providing anchoring facilities for larger vessels are the major objectives of these development projects," the minister stated.

Hambathota District Mayor Eraj Fernando, Hambathota District Government Agent C.R.de Silva, Ceylon Fisheries Harbours Corporation (CFHC) Managing Director Lal Samarasinghe, IFAD Project's National Coordinator D. Prathapasinghe also participated.