The Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said, although the end of the war has brought back normalcy to the fisher community in the North and East and to restart their livelihood of fishing, the fishermen dwelling from Chilaw to Jaffna are deprived of basic infrastructure facilities.

Considering the situation, the government has focused on developing the fishing village of Wellamankara in Mannar as a fully-fledged fishery harbor, Minister Amaraweera said.

The Minister disclosed this during a discussion held at the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development with the participation of Ministers of state Dilip Wedaarachchi, Palitha Range Bandara, Arundika Fernando, Priyankara Jayaratne and representatives of fishermen in Mannar and Puttalam Districts.

A six-hectare extent of land is proposed for the development at an investment of Rs. 1 billion. The proposed fishery harbor will provide facilities to accommodate about 500 multi-day fishing vessels and 350 small fishing craft. It will also be equipped with a fisheries community center, fuel supplying center, cold room, office facilities and water, electricity and sanitary facilities.

Minister Amaraweera instructed the relevant officials to complete a feasibility report by April giving attention to the suggestions and comments of fisher community and to make arrangements to complete the project by mid next year.