Kanchana Wijesekera, State minister for Fisheries, who visited the Udawalawe Fisheries Field recently, said that less than 2% of Sri Lanka's water resources are still being utilized for the freshwater fisheries industry.
He emphasized that more reservoirs, tanks, ponds, rivers, and seasonal reservoirs should be utilized in order to develop the fishing industry. The Minister further stated that the government has paid special attention in this regard.
The Minister further stated that Rs.39 million has been allocated from this year's budget for the stocking of fish fry’s and prawns post larvae free of charge. The Minister of State said that the previous maximum allocation for free loading to the Aquaculture Development Authority. The Minister of State said that the previous maximum allocation to the Aquaculture Development Authority in order to stocking fish fry’s free of charge was Rs.30 million, which shows the government's interest in uplifting the inland fisheries industry in the country.
He emphasized that the development of the inland fisheries industry has the potential to create new fisheries entrepreneurs as well as increase the country's protein requirement and export earnings. It was revealed that there are about 300 members of the fishing industry associated with this tank and each of them has the opportunity to earn at least Rs. 300,000 per month.
