Inland fish breeding to get state boost

by Chanuka Mannapperuma

A programme to boost the inland fish breeding will be launched shortly, acting Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister, Neomal Perera, announced at a discussion held in Puttalam recently.

"The majority of the people in Puttalam district were engaged in fishing industry to earn a living, but the ethnic war has dealt a serious blow to the industry because of security restrictions.

"Due to this nearly 2,000 have been deprived of their source of income, and the government is burdened with the responsibility of providing them with alternate sources of income. "Fishermen in Sinapaduwa, Kandakuliya, Kalpitiya and Uddappuwa have been allowed only 12 hours to do their fishing. "Short-term, mid-term and long-term projects live with a 10-year master plan have been worked out", the minister assured.