At Dikkowita Fisheries Harbour opening...:

PEOPLE REJECTED PSEUDO SPRING - President

Chaminda Perera and Nimal Jayasinghe Gampaha Roving

Patriotic masses defeated elements with vested interests who were waiting for the dawn of an ‘Arab Spring’, as in Libya and many other Arab countries, to overthrow the UPFA government, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He said people in their thousands took to the streets in support of the government, when a handful of conspirators tried to overthrow it by calling for an ‘Arab Spring’ style uprising.

Speaking at the opening of Dikkowita Fisheries harbour yesterday, the President stressed that any person involved in corruption would be severely dealt with irrespective of their position in society. “The judges in the superior courts or lower courts are no exception in this respect," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The Dikkowita Fisheries harbour which was built on par with international standards as South Asia’s Fish Exporting Hub was funded by the Governments of the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. The Dutch Government provided Rs. 7,650 million under its ORET grant scheme while the Sri Lankan government invested Rs. 1,350 million for the project.

This fisheries harbour located in the Wattala Divisional Secretariat Division in the Gampaha District has a basin area of 11.7 hectares and port area of 8.1 hectares. The harbour mouth is 50 metres in width and over six metres in depth. It has two terminals with the facility of anchoring more than 40 - 50 trawlers. The mechanized conveyor belt which operates using modern technology will also facilitate efficient unloading of the fish harvest.

This harbour consists of fish processing units, an ice manufacturing plant, cold rooms and many more facilities. President Rajapaksa said the government is committed to protect and promote democracy . “We always respect the Rule of the Law”, he said.

He said that true peace will dawn in the country when the drug menace is completely wiped out from the country.

“We should protect the public and the younger generation from the evil of drugs. This cancerous evil needs to be removed from the country to ensure a better future for our younger generation”, the President said. The President added that the government has a responsibility to ensure a better future free from corruption and the drug menace for posterity.

He said the government has been strengthening the public service in the face of various challenges. “Sri Lanka has the largest strength in the public service as a percentage”, he added. “The government succeeded in facing many challenges including drought and impact of global financial recession effectively. “Some people thought that Sri Lanka’s economy would plunge into crisis with the suspension of GSP+ facility to Sri Lanka,” he said. The President said Sri Lanka competed more vigorously in the international market in the backdrop of the GSP + suspension .

“Sri Lankan products have acquired a wider market after being more competitive in face of many challenges. Every strata of society is benefited by Government subsidies, the President said. “The government’s subsidy is not limited to farmers and fishermen. All stakeholders in society are benefited by the subsidy”, he added.

The President added that the fisheries industry was exempted from tax.

'The income derived from the fisheries industry is exempt from tax,” he added.

The President recollected how the progressive governments led by former Prime Ministers SWRD Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike were committed to the uplift of the fisheries industry. “Many fisheries harbours were developed in accordance with international standards under the stewardship of Minister Philip Gunawardena and George Rajapaksa,” he added.

President Rajapaksa added that the government has established banks to inculcate the saving habits among the fishing communities.

He said the government launched a housing programme for fishing communities who were living in shanties along the coastal belt. President Rajapaksa was of the view that the children of fishing communities should also have the opportunity for higher education, and stressed the need for creating a more conducive environment for this purpose.

The President added that the Ocean University was established with the sole objective of upgrading their industry to professional standards. Fisheries and Acquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Social Service and Welfare Minister Felix Perera also spoke. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Susanth Punchi Nilame, representatives of the Dutch government and Parliamentarians representing Gampaha District were also present.