|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 7 December 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Lumbini Aquaria wins 8 awards at Aquarama 2003 A Sri Lankan ornamental fish exporter created history recently, winning eight awards at Aquarama 2003' in Singapore, the region's largest exhibition of exotic fish. Lumbini Aquaria Wayamba Limited, Sri Lanka's pioneer and leading ornamental fish exporter, received six awards for 'Guppies' and two for other varieties at this prestigious international event, drawing global attention to the country's skills in ornamental fish breeding and its potential as a major exporter in this sector. This was the highest number of awards won by a single company at a single event in the history of Aquarama, which is held biannually. The 2003 exhibition and competition which concluded recently was the eighth in the series and brought together 145 exhibitors from 20 countries. Lumbini Aquaria, winner of Aquarama's 'Grand Champion' award for Guppies in 1995 and 1997, exhibited 30 varieties of Guppies as well as 'Red Cap' Swordtails, Tetras, Platies and a new species developed from a strain of Dwarf Guppies which the company has named 'Cobra Endler.' This was adjudged as one of the newest species to have been introduced to the market worldwide. The exhibits were judged by an international panel of aquarists on the quality of the specimens taking into consideration aspects such as size, colour variations, overall health and finnage. "These awards mean much more than just a tribute to our dedicated staff who are committed to achieve the goals of Lumbini Aquaria Wayamba Limited," said the company's Managing Director Vibhu Perera. "They bring credit to the country, enhance Sri Lanka's reputation as a quality player in this very competitive market and underline our skills in breeding and creating new strains of exotic fish." He said Lumbini Aquaria, which recently commenced work on its fourth breeding farm at Narammala had received significant assistance and encouragement from Seylan Bank, DFCC Bank and the Wayamba Economic Commission to expand its operations. The company commenced business in 1952 and today it is the largest exporter of ornamental fish in the country with a market share of 25 per cent of exports from Sri Lanka.Lumbini Aquaria was also the first ornamental fish exporting company in the world to win the prestigious 'Arch of Europe' award for quality and technology from Business Initiative Directions (BID) in Frankfurt in March 2001. A BoI venture, the company breeds, outgrows and exports about 250 varieties of freshwater and marine fish to 36 destinations in 24 countries including Japan, USA, UK, Canada and many countries in Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East. "We are already breeding most of the endangered fresh water species in our farm at Mt. Lavinia, although the regulations have not been amended to export even a part of what we breed," Mr. Perera said. Lumbini has also commenced a breeding programme to breed marine fish and exotic shrimps. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
