Valaichchenai fisheries harbour opens next month:

Eastern Province gears for a better "Catch"

By Shirajiv SIRIMANE in Valaichchenai

The fisheries sector of the Eastern Province was hampered for nearly 30 years due to the war against terrorism, the tsunami and also due to the lack of infrastructure. Makeshift mini fisheries harbours operated from time to time, but they were never sufficient to meet the growing demand.

The only harbour in the area, the Valaichchenai Fisheries Harbour in Batticaloa was destroyed by the LTTE in 1992 and a part of the remaining building once served as the local police station. The harbour had not been in use for nearly 20 years and the economic loss due to this was enormous.

Under the program of Eastern Province Re-awakening launched by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and through the Thotu-pala Aruna projects designed to reconstruct the harbour infrastructure so that they can serve the fishing community, the Valaichchenai harbour has come back into the spotlight.

With the financial support of the Asian Development Bank to the tune of Rs. 330 million, the resurrection of the harbour began and the project is now completed.

The new fuel storage facility

The fish trading area

The repair facility

The project, estimated to cost around Rs. 430 million, would benefit over 12,000 families in the area. The Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation, the project implementing agency, would pump in the balance finances. The Lanka Hydraulic Institute was entrusted with the consultancy services for the rehabilitation of the Valaichchenai fisheries harbour.

Major attraction

Today the fisheries harbour is a major attraction in the area and resembles a tourist harbour more than a fisheries harbour with sea blue well-planned structures.

The new harbour can accommodate 200 boats and also has a long jetty to unload goods. It has a petrol and fuel storage point as well and its long pumping tubes can provide fuel direct to the boats.

Manager of the new harbour S.S. Hettige said, "it would be opened next month after a two-year rebuilding process".

He described the new fisheries harbour as a one-stop-shop for fishermen. In addition to its depth, allowing larger vessels to anchor in the harbour, it also has a boat repairing facility with cranes to lift vessels and provide berthing facilities for boats," Hettige said.

One of the biggest problems faced by the fisherfolk of the area was the lack of cold storage facilities. Due to this, the bargaining power of the fishermen was low as they had to sell the fish at whatever prices quoted by the Mudalali. However, with cold room facilities they could keep the fish overnight and sell them the following day. One of the unique features of the facility is the large parking area which allows vehicles to be taken right next to the vessels. A large canteen too is being built.

Auction area

"There is also a large auction area and facilities to clean the area after the day's trading, enabling the place to be clean and hygienic", he said. "We want the harbour to be a clean place."

In a bid to provide additional facilities for the fisherman, a net repair facility has also been set up at the premises.

Larger water storage facilities too are available. Chairman of Maalu Maalu Resorts Chandra Wickramasinghe said that they are hoping to have a restaurant in the area where the public could select fish which would be cooked for them.

The Ministry of Fisheries was also keen to expedite this project as it will help increase the 'catch', leading to lower prices of fish in the open market.