Whale-watching to promote eco-tourism

by Anushka Nanayakkara

[email protected]
 

The whale-watching program was launched in Sri Lanka to promote eco-tourism by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in collaboration with the Ceylon Fisheries Harbours Corporation, Walker Tours and Tharunyata Hetak organisation.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Neomal Perera said that the program was launched to promote Eco tourism, boost national revenue and create job opportunities.

The program also helps to protect whales in Sri Lanka.

Government organisations and leading private sector companies are ready to compete with the Maldives and Seychelles with regard to whale-watching, he said.

Chairman Fisheries Harbours Corporation, Asanga Abeygoonasekara said of the 80 varieties of whales 26 are found in the Indian ocean and Sri Lanka was declared as a whale sanctuary in 1979.