June 23, 2010

The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said that it will support the Sri Lankan government to develop its fisheries sector.

FAO South Asian Region Director Patric T. Evans had told Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratna that the FAO will assist Sri Lanka to increase its fish productivity through technical assistance and financial aid, according to reports.

Evans said this to the minister after a discussion held between them at the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry in Colombo. Senaratna said Agriculture and fisheries will be key sectors to be developed to reach the level of being a self-sufficient country.

He said a fish production of 339,730 tonnes was made in 2009, and the government will increase it by 10% in the next five years.

"We have implemented many programmes to develop fisheries in the North and East after the end of terrorism," he said.

The government will provide fishing gears, houses for fisher families and modern technology, the minister said.