Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said there is a growing demand for fish products in Europe as well as in countries including Japan, and the Sri Lankan fishing sector could cater to that demand by increasing fish production. He added that the Cey-Nor Foundation, as the largest boat builders in Sri Lanka could make a major contribution by expanding fiber boat production.
Speaking at the 55th anniversary celebrations of the Cey-Nor Foundation at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo yesterday (8), he said Sri Lanka should use its sea resources including fish, as the future lies in increasing export of new products.
Launching the Cey-Nor website and the 5-year development plan, the Prime Minister said no establishment could grow without a plan of action and it is very important that Cey-Nor has presented a new 5 year plan for expansion of its operations, which will be of much benefit to the economy of the country.
“For two centuries, we exported traditional products like tea and rubber. Similarly, we can export fish to the European market to earn valuable foreign exchange. There is a demand for Sri Lankan fish in Europe as well as in Japan. We are unable to meet that demand. There is a need for freezer facilities to preserve fish. Cey-Nor should expand fiber boats with freezer facilities and they can also use new technologies such as solar power for multi-day vessels,” he said.
The Prime Minister said it is essential to solve issues through dialogue and reach international agreements to expand fishing.
The Prime Minister said that Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda has succeeded in solving the issue of Sri Lankan vessels crossing international boundaries by obtaining signal-emitting equipment for fishing vessels to ensure they adhere to navigation laws under international maritime regulations. Prime Minister Gunawardena congratulated the Cey-Nor management, engineers, technicians and workers for their success and commitment and assured the Government’s support for them.
Minister Douglas Devananda recalled that under the rehabilitation programme in the North and Karainagar in 2009, the Government invested in rehabilitating the Cey–Nor Karainagar Boat Yard.
He said Cey-Nor could expand boat production to serve not only the fishing industry but also the tourism sector as the demand for whale-watching boats has increased.
The Prime Minister presented awards to several Cey-Nor employees who completed 25 years of service. Ven. Kirinde Assaji Thera of the Gangaramaya, Ministers Roshan Ranasinghe, Manusha Nanayakkara, Parliamentarian Yadamini Gunawardena, Fisheries Secretary Indu Ratnayake and Cey-Nor Chairman Dulan Hettiarachchi were also present.