Construction to begin shortly :

Rs. 7.9 b invested on Dikovita fisheries harbour

The construction work of the Dikovita fisheries harbour will commence early this month, said the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries G. Piyasena.

The harbour consisting of all modern facilities for multi-day fishing craft will be the largest fisheries harbour in the region, he said.

The main objective of the harbour is providing all facilities to multi-day fishing craft that are engaged in deep sea fishing in the southern Indian ocean. The project also targets to exploit huge untapped potential in the country’s territorial waters and increase fish exports of the country. The harbour constructed in Wattala in the Western Province is in close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Colombo city. This location of the harbour is important to cater to local and export markets.

The harbour will not be limited to local fishing craft and it will also cater to foreign vessels fishing in the deep sea in the Indian ocean including tuna long liners.

With 13 hectares harbour area, 1100 metres long break water, eleven quays and anchoring area extended to 1500 metres the harbour will provide cargo handling facilities for 20 vessels simultaneously. It will provide anchoring facilities for 400 vessels.

Fish cleaning and processing facilities, an auction centre, cold rooms, deep freezing storage facilities, ice plant a slip way, net binding facility, water supply and an internal transport system are the other facilities available in the new harbour. The total cost of the project is Rs. 7,926 million, the ministry sources said. Meanwhile the government has also given top priority to rejuvenate the fisheries sector in the liberated North and Eastern provinces. This program will help to improve livelihoods of thousands of fishery families in the two provinces. They have lost their livelihoods due to the conflict as well as the tsunami.

The Valachchenai fishery harbour, the first fisheries sector development project in the Eastern Province was launched recently under the “Thotupola Aruna” program. Around 3,250 fishery families and 1250 small and medium fish traders are benefited by the project.

The Valachchenai fishery harbour will cater to over 400 fishing craft. The ADB funded project costs Rs. 330 million.

(GW)