Polonnaruwa Aquaculture Development Centre was established in 1940 to full fill the fish seed requirement in North Central province. Due to the stopping of state patronage provided to develop inland fisheries, on a decision taken by the Government in 1990 the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources decided to lease out the centre to a private company “UJ Aqua (Pvt) Ltd” in 1992 with the intention of reaping maximum benefits out of the new venture. But the government desires were not met with above company and it was evident that the plight or the demise of this facility was primarily due to mismanagement and improper maintenance and non-payment of lease NAQDA decided to take over the centre back in 24th March 2009.

Under the new Urban Development Plan in Polonnaruwa District, the government decided to take over the premises of Aquaculture Development Centre and District Aquaculture Extension Office, Polonnaruwa to the Ministry of Health in July 2015 to establish hospital for Kidney Disease. Therefore, it is imperative to build the Aquaculture Development Center and District Aquaculture Extension Office in new place.

NAQDA has planned to establish a new Aquaculture Development Centres in Sevanapitiya, Polonnaruwa with a capacity of producing 10Mn. fingerlings, to Increase the supply of fish seed required for stocking in reservoirs in order to increase the nutrition level and rural economy by increasing the inland and aquaculture fish production.  Apart from this, the fry produced in the centre will be sold to small scale fish seed producers in the district and targeting 5 Mn fish fingerling production. The total fingerling production will be 15 million and it will be able to full fill the total fish fingerling requirement in the District and also in other districts. Inland fish production in Polonnaruwa district will be increased to around 12000 Mt and also this project will help in;

01) Enhancing nutritional status of communities in rural areas

02) Availability of fish at affordable price for rural people

03) Availability of quality fish

04) Good income for fish farmers

05) Confidence created on benefits of fish farm

Total Estimated Project Cost: Rs. Mn 400.00

Funded by “Pibidemu Polonnaruwa” District Development Programme

Progress: Construction is in progress

To Increase the supply of fish seed required for stocking in Southern reservoirs in order to increase the nutrition level and rural economy by increasing the inland and aquaculture fish production, NAQDA has planned to established an Aquaculture Development Centres in Muruthawela, Hambantota with a capacity of producing 8Mn. fingerlings per year Apart from this, the fry produced in the centre will be sold to small scale fish seed producers in the district and targeting 5.40 Mn fish fingerling production The total fingerling production will be 13.40 million and it will be able to full fill the total fish fingerling requirement in Hambantota District and also in other districts. Inland fish production in Hambantota district will be increased by around 5000 Mt and also this project will help in;

01) Enhancing nutritional status of communities in rural areas

02) Availability of fish at affordable price for rural people

03) Availability of quality fish

04) Good income for fish farmers

05) Confidence created on benefits of fish farm

Total Estimated Project Cost: Rs. Mn 400.00

Funded by Government of Sri Lanka (Budget Proposal 2016)

Progress: Construction is in progress

NAQDA has planned to establish a Marine Ornamental Fish Breeding Centre, Bangadeniya in order to make available tank bred ornamental fish for export market and increase product range of ornamental fish and enhance foreign exchange earnings. Development of breeding technology for marine ornamental fish and invertebrates will be carried out at this centre. Further technology available on these aspects elsewhere in the world, will be transferred and adapted at this centre.

Total Estimated Project Cost: Rs. Mn 250.00

Progress: Construction is in progress

NAQDA has planned to establish a Milk Fish Hatchery, Bangadeniya in order to increase the milkfish production as food fish, provide high value milk fish fry for local farmers at a reasonable price and supply milk fish as bait. By establishing this hatchery it is planned to create livelihoods in local communities, save the foreign exchange involved in imports of fish bait for tuna, earn the foreign exchange by export, support fish farmers to keep the cost of seed at a minimum level and disseminate breeding technology.

Production capacity: 10 Mn Milk fish fry per annum

Total Estimated Project Cost: Rs. Mn 250.00

Progress: Construction is in progress

NAQDA has planned to establish a sea cucumber hatchery in Oleithuduwai, Mannar in order to produce sea cucumber juveniles to promote sea cucumber farming in Sri Lanka. Through the establishment of new hatchery facility at Oleithoduwai farming and also stock enhancement activities of sea cucumber will be increased.  Therefore, the sea cucumber production will be increased and income generation from exports will also be increased. Living standards of farmers will also be increased. Production from the new hatchery facility will be issued for pond and pen farms and stock in natural areas. It is also expected to encourage private sector parties to produce seeds and culture sea cucumber through this project.

This also creates livelihoods of the country and earns foreign exchange by exporting Sea Cucumber.

Production capacity: 1 million juveniles per annum

Total Estimated Project Cost: Rs. Mn 250.00

Progress: Construction is in progress

The objective of this project is to improve the environment for aquaculture investments and sustainably meet food security and economic development targets without causing environmental degradation by providing suitable environment for the potential investors to develop coastal aquaculture through establishing an Industrial Aquaculture Park. Proposed area for the establishment of Aquaculture Park is one of the rural areas in Mannar District. Development of such facilities combined with other common infrastructure facilities such as roads, electricity, etc. also will benefit the local community in the area. Through this aquaculture park around 4500 direct and indirect jobs will be created. Also this will benefit coastal community by increasing their income and living standards. The technology could be disseminated in the region. Increasing coastal aquaculture production can contribute for the development of economy of the country.  The expected production is around 8,640 Mt and will also increase the export earning of the country. NAQDA has identified six land areas in Mannar District and in initial stage 1000 ha from Manthai west will be surveyed for Aquaculture Industrial Park.

Progress: Land acquiring is in progress.