{"id":4944,"date":"2026-06-12T04:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T04:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/124.43.146.194\/?p=4944"},"modified":"2026-06-18T04:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:44:47","slug":"new-boat-launch-facility-opens-in-beruwala-a-new-path-towards-the-36-billion-export-target-by-2030-minister-sunil-handunnetti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fisheries.gov.lk\/?p=4944","title":{"rendered":"New Boat Launch Facility Opens in Beruwala: A New Path Towards the $36 Billion Export Target by 2030 \u2013 Minister Sunil Handunnetti"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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New Boat Launch Facility Opens in Beruwala: A New Path Towards the $36 Billion Export Target by 2030 \u2013 Minister Sunil Handunnetti<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/\t\t\t\t
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“The era of ministries working together to build the country by transforming the political culture of corruption and fraud has begun” \u2013 Deputy Minister Ratna Gamage<\/p>\n\n

With the objective of boosting Sri Lanka’s export earnings, the new\u00a0Boat Launching Facility<\/strong>\u00a0constructed at the Beruwala Fishery Harbour premises with an investment of Rs. 76 million under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development was ceremonially declared open yesterday (11) under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Mr. Sunil Handunnetti, and the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, Mr. Ratna Gamage.<\/p>\n\n

The local boat manufacturing industry currently generates more than US$53 million in annual export revenue, and the primary objective of this project is to eliminate the technical challenges that have long hindered the safe launching of large, locally manufactured vessels into the sea.<\/p>\n\n

Addressing the gathering, Minister Sunil Handunnetti emphasized that the facility is not merely an addition to a fishery \u00a0harbour but a significant economic gateway that will contribute to the country’s foreign exchange earnings.<\/p>\n\n

“In the past, industrialists faced numerous obstacles, including damage to electrical infrastructure while transporting large boats by road. By enabling both manufacturing and launching operations at the same location, these costs and challenges can be significantly reduced. Our goal is to transform Sri Lanka into a $36 billion export economy by 2030,”<\/em>\u00a0the Minister stated.<\/p>\n\n

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Ratna Gamage highlighted that the success of the current government is rooted in the close cooperation among ministries.<\/p>\n\n

“We have moved away from the political culture of corruption and fraud that prevailed in the past. Today, we work alongside private entrepreneurs as partners in national development. Our target is to increase fisheries export earnings from the current US$300 million to US$600 million within the next four years,”<\/em>\u00a0the Deputy Minister said.He further stressed the importance of advancing towards the production of vessels using modern Steel Hull technology to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness in the future.<\/p>\n\n

During the ceremony, the administration and maintenance responsibilities of the facility were officially handed over to the Ceylon Fishery \u00a0Harbours Corporation.<\/p>\n\n

Among those who attended the event were Kalutara District Parliamentarian Chandima Hettiarachchi, Galle District Parliamentarian Nishantha Perera, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Thilaka Jayasundara, Kalutara District Secretary H.M.S.P. Herath, Chairman of the Ceylon Fishery \u00a0Harbours Corporation B.A.P. Kapila Bamunuarachchi, along with a large number of government officials and representatives from the business community.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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