Rs. 253 m to uplift Matara fishing community

Ridma Dissanayake

The International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD) programme which is functioning under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry spent Rs. 253 million in 2012 for the benefit of the fishing community in the Matara district, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said. The IFAD project built houses for fisher families, renovated road systems, provided infrastructure facilities including water and electricity, developed sanitary facilities, built community centres and granted Diyawara Sawiya loans for self-employment spending huge amounts last year, he said.

“We signed agreements with the French government and measures are in place to commence construction of the Gandara Fisheries Harbour within the next few months,” the minister said.

“We have established two marketing centres in Matara to sell products of the self-employed in Matara.

Plans have already drawn up to upgrade the living standards of the fishing community in the Matara district,” Dr. Senaratne said.