Inception workshop on Technical Assistance for the Development of a Self-sustained Culture-based Inland Fisheries Cluster Model in Ampara District

Inception workshop on FAO funded Technical Assistance for the Development of a Selfsustained Culture-based Inland Fisheries Cluster Model in Ampara District was held on 15 th September 2023 at District Aquaculture Extension Office, Ampara. Main objective of this project is to Strengthened rural economy, food and nutritional security by creating a self-
sustained culture-based inland fishery.

Present Status of Culture based Fisheries in Sri Lanka and Ampara District was presented by Mr.R.H. Pothuwila, Director (Extension) NAQDA together with Mr. Rohitha Assistant Director (Extension) NAQDA. Awareness on Past socio-economic experiences on a self-sustained future of culture-based fishery was conducted by Prof. M. G. Kularatne, Department of Economics,
Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya and Importance of technological interventions in self-sustaining culture-based fisheries was conducted by Dr. Kelum Wijenayake, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. Success story of Culture based Fisheries at Senanayake Samudraya was
presented by Mr. Rohitha Assistant Director (Extension) NAQDA, Mr. D.M.T.U. Dissanayake District Aquaculture Extension Officer together with a society member of Senanayake Samudraya. Finally Introduction to the FAO TCP Project was presented by Dr. H. M. Palitha Kithsiri, FAO Fisheries Specialist for Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Dr. J.M. Asoka, Director General, NAQDA, Mr. Nalin Munasinghe, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), Sri Lanka and Maldives, Dr. H. M. Palitha Kithsiri, FAO Fisheries Specialist for Sri Lanka and Maldives, Prof. M. G. Kularatne, Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Dr. Kelum Wijenayake, Department of Aquaculture
and Fisheries, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Staff of NAQDA and NARA and members of Fisheries Societies were participated.