The second session of the "District Fisheries Coordination Committee Meeting," convened to identify issues faced by the fishing community in the Galle District and facilitate timely solutions, was held yesterday (27) at the Galle District Secretariat under the patronage of Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Rathna Gamage.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Minister highlighted several key initiatives. He announced that development work at the Galle, Dodanduwa, Hikkaduwa, and Ambalangoda fishery harbours is scheduled to commence in August. Relevant officials have been instructed to complete the first phase of the projects within one year.
The Deputy Minister further stated that, under a joint initiative of the "Clean Sri Lanka" programme and Cey-Nor, a dedicated recycling unit will be established at the Beruwala Fishery Harbour to process fibreglass waste collected from fishery harbours. The required machinery has already been procured, and operations are expected to begin within the next two to three months.
Further matters that were brought to the attention of this committee meeting:
- Reviewing the progress of blasting and removing the existing rock reef at the Kosgoda Galbokka Fishery Harbour.
- Assessing the current status of projects aimed at developing 37 fisheries landing sites located across the district.
- Establishing a formal waste management system within the fishery harbour premises.
- Identifying solutions to challenges affecting lagoon management and the inland fisheries sector.
The committee also conducted a comprehensive review of the progress made on decisions taken during the previous Coordination Committee meeting. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the government's primary objective is to foster an environmentally sustainable fishing industry while strengthening the economic well-being of the fishing community.
Among those present were Members of Parliament Mr. T. K. Jayasundara and Mr. Nishantha Perera; Chairman of the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation, Mr. B. A. P. Kapila Bamunuarachchi; Chairman of the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation, Mr. Mohamed Nawras Nassar, Galle District Secretary, Mr. K. U. Chandralal, Secretary to the Southern Provincial Ministry of Fisheries, Mr. Ranjith Yapa, and several other officials.
