One of the most modern seafood processing plants in the South Asian region with an investment of Rs 200 million was inaugurated recently by Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda and State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha at Arali Road in Jaffna.
Addressing the ceremony held there, Suganthaseelan Aravindan, Managing Director Suganthan Sea Food Private Limited a BOI venture said the factory works specifically for the export of sea cucumber. In addition to about 30 acres of sea farms owned by the “Suganthan Sea Farm” company in Kakativu, Iranaitivu and Nachchikuda areas of Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts, sea farms of fishery families has been established in more than 400 acres of land in those areas with the permission and guidance of the National Aquaculture Development Authority.
Piyal Nishantha, State Minister of Fisheries, who joined the occasion, said that he would give maximum support to Aravindan, a young businessman who earns dollars to the country through an unique and difficult industry.
This is the most modern and the only sea cucumber processing factory in Sri Lanka and they will not hesitate to encourage such industries as they will be able to boost the country’s economy while strengthening the economy of the fishing community in the north.
Minister Douglas Devananda said that Aravindan has given a new look and new energy to the business of exporting seafood, which was started by his father, the late Suganthaseelan. At a time when the country is economically backward, the minister said that his ministry will continue to give maximum support to this important business because the seafood factory will provide employment opportunities to the north and the country will receive dollars.
The event was attended by police chiefs of the Northern Province, navy chiefs, representatives of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, officials of the National Aquaculture Development Authority and many scholars in the fields of fisheries and marine resources. (MF)
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