New sea cucumber fingerlings breeding centre for Mannar

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said, steps have been taken to build a new sea cucumber fingerlings breeding centre in Olaithoduvai, Mannar, in addition to the existing facility, in collaboration with private sector investors in India,.

The Fisheries Minister expressed confidence that the proposed project will be able to supply enough sea cucumber fingerlings to aquaculture farmers in the region. The rural people will be able to earn enough money to improve their economic and living conditions while also contributing to resolving the country’s current foreign reserves problem.

Minister Devananda added that he met a group of Indian investors, at Olaithoduvai in Mannar to discuss this matter and to take further decisions in connection with the establishment of proposed centre in consultation with them.

Devananda also inquired from the Indian investors about their experience in this field and in connection with the establishment of sea cucumber fingerlings breeding centre using sophisticated modern aquaculture farming technology. 

The Fisheries Minister said that at a time when the international demand for sea cucumber is high, holding discussions with the Indian investors in connection with the establishment of a sea cucumber fingerlings breeding centre, would be more beneficial to the Sri Lankan aquaculture industry, as a whole.