Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2017-11-21

Upgrading Aquaculture in Manmoonai South West of Batticaloa

- A proposal has been made to re-establish an aquaculture industry in a land in extent of 202.343 hectares (500 acres) situated in the Manmoonai South West Divisional Secretariat Division of Batticaloa, which had been used as brackish water shrimp farm, prior to the eruption of the conflict environment. It would provide a high contribution to the national economy and would generate nearly 900 direct job opportunities in the area.

Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, to allocate the said land to the selected investors on lease basis, adopting the Government Procurement Procedure, through the Sri Lanka Board of Investment to build 450 ponds within the limits of the said area to cultivate high valued species including Brackish water shrimps, Mud Crabs, Milk-fish and Bait, potential in making high economic profits, was approved by the Cabinet.