Japan provides two multi-day fishing boats for tsunami hit fishermen

COLOMBO: The Japanese Government handed over two multi-day fishing bouts worth Rs. 64 million to rebuild and rehabilitate the fishing industry in tsunami affected areas.

These 50ft multi-day fishing boats, built to be off-shore for a longer period and have a larger capacity to store the harvest, will result in increasing the fish harvest in the area.

The Japanese Government is of the hope that these two multi-day boats will help rebuild the livelihoods of fishermen and fishing communities affected by the tsunami.

The Japanese government granted US $ 80 million as Non-Project Grant Aid immediately after the tsunami to rebuild and reconstruct tsunami affected communities. This grant was utilised to reconstruct and rehabilitate range of sectors including fisheries, water supply and sanitation, health, education, housing, energy and roads.

Out of the total US$ 80 million, US$20 million has been allocated to the fishery sector, considering the economical and social importance of the industry.

The launching ceremony of the multi-day fishing boats was held at the Mutwal Fishery Harbour, Colombo on Thursday.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Minister Felix Perera, Deputy Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Neomal Perera and Japanese Embassy Second Secretary Yasuhiro Watanabe, on behalf of Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Araki participated.