The official launching and handover ceremony of the 55-foot fishing vessel built for the private sector of the State of Mauritius, under the patronage of the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Ramalingam Chandrasekar, was held this morning (04) at the Cey-Nor shipyard in Mattakkuliya.

The modern vessel, named “CAPTAIN C”, is valued at US$ 234,000 and features a fish storage capacity of 29 cubic meters and a fuel capacity of 12,500 liters. The vessel was officially handed over to Mr. Ramesh Chuttoo, Chairman of the ‘Captain C Adventure Offshore Fishing Co-operative Society’ in Mauritius.

Making a special statement at the ceremony, Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar emphasized that the Cey-Nor Foundation has already demonstrated that government-owned enterprises can become profitable through proper management and dedicated leadership.

“The era of neglecting Cey-Nor is over. Our talented workforce and new management are now successfully completing international orders. Following our recent visit to Norway, the country agreed to provide technical assistance to Cey-Nor. I also hope to secure the necessary technology for the modernization of Cey-Nor during my visit to Japan early next month. At the request of the owner in Mauritius, we are also discussing the possibility of establishing a Cey-Nor boatyard in that country in the future. It will be a significant achievement for both our ministry and the nation,” the Minister said.

In addition, the Minister announced that Cey-Nor has also been entrusted with manufacturing a new vessel worth Rs. 150 million, targeting the tourism sector in the Northern Province.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Cey-Nor Foundation, Wasantha Mannapperuma, stated that the institution has been a pioneer in Sri Lanka’s boat-building industry since 1967, having manufactured more than 20,000 boats. He further emphasized that Cey-Nor is fully prepared to expand exports to countries such as Seychelles and Madagascar, earning valuable foreign exchange for the country while capitalizing on the strong international recognition it has gained under the current government.

Dr. B. K. Kolitha Kamal Jinadasa, Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Professor Sanath Hettiarachchi, Chairman of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Mohamed Nawras Nassar, Chairman of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, along with officials from the Ministry and its affiliated institutions, participated in the event.