Lanka Gov begins re-developing Galle fish harbour

Colombo: The Sri Lankan Government has started constructing the badly damaged Galle fisheries harbour at a cost of SR 559-million. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding the re-development works of the Tsunami affected fish hub.

The JICA assisted in the preparation of the designing of the Galle Fisheries Harbour while the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) will supervise implementation of the project.

The fisheries sector was severely affected due to the tsunami, and a large number of boats, fishing gear and infrastructure were destroyed. It is reported that about 80% of the country's boat fleet was fully destroyed or damaged and 10 out of 12 fishery harbours in the country were also destroyed.

As a result a large number of coastal communities whose livelihood depended on the fisheries industry were badly affected. In the restoration of tsunami-affected areas, it is important that priority is given towards livelihood restoration of fisher communities, so that the people will be able to get on with their lives as before.

The Galle Fishery Harbour was amongst the worst affected Harbours by the tsunami. Under the project, the Galle fishery harbour will be reconstructed with new facilities such as an Ice Plant with a production capacity of 50 tons per day, Cold Storage, Quay wall, slipway for fishing vessels for safe navigation, winch house, auction hall, two storied building for the office of the Ceylon fishery harbour Cooperation, a canteen for harbour staff.

Immediately after the tsunami, the Government of Japan extended 80 million US$ under the Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of a wide range of tsunami-affected sectors.

Out of this total grant, 20 million US$, which is one fourth of the grant has been allocated to fisheries items such as boats, fishing gear, ice plants, cold storage, and other necessary inputs and also for the reconstruction of the Galle and Tangalle fishery harbours.

Last week, the Government of Japan pledged a sum of Rs. 21,559 million yen (approximately 18,567 million rupees) under the 37th Yen Loan Package to Sri Lanka, out of which, 14,495 million yen (approximately 13,750 million rupees) has been allocated for the development of the Galle Port.

Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Felix Perera and Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Japan Hiroshi Karube laid the foundation stone for the new Galle Fisheries Harbour.