Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr Rajitha Senaratne said that the Diyawara Gammana concept was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was the Fisheries Minister.
Minister Senaratne inaugurated a number of development projects is the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts during an inspection tour in the East recently. Speaking at a function during this tour the Minister said that his Ministry has spent over Rs. 550 million for the development of the fisheries industry and uplift the livelihood of fishing families since the end of terrorism.
The Minister said that Trincomalee is the seventh trade centre of Sri Lanka and over 3,000 self-employment opportunities have been created in Trincomalee. He said that the Ministry has established six fish landing centres in the Trincomalee district to increase sea and inland water fish harvest in the district.
Speaking further, the Minister said the government is spending Rs. 3,600 million a year to grant fuel compensation to fishermen, and several other measures have also been taken to upgrade the living standards of fishermen while introducing insurance schemes, loan schemes and establishing district level fisheries organizations.
He said the country's fish harvest has also increased by 50 per cent during the past two years.
The Minister said that the Sri Lankan fisheries industry is showing a tremendous progress while making a vital contribution to the country's economy.
