Sri Lanka first Multi-Species Marine Finfish Hatchery established in Batticaloa

Sri Lanka's first Multi-Species Marine Finfish Hatchery was inaugurated in Tharmapuram, Batticaloa in 29th June 2017 to facilitate the development of marine finfish farming, and produce sufficient amounts of marine fish to meet the demands of the national and international markets. The hatchery was ceremonially opened by Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development. Hon. Nazeer Ahamed, Chief Minister of Eastern Province, Hon. M.L.A.M. Hizbullah, State Minister of Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Hon. Kirushnapillai Thurairasasingam, Fisheries Minister of the Eastern Province, Ms. Nina Brandstrup, FAO Representative Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Ms. Libuse Soukupova, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and Ms. P.S.M. Charles, District Secretary Batticaloa were among the dignitaries present at the ceremony. 

Mr. Upali Mohotti (Attorney-at-Law) Chairman NAQDA, Mr. Nimal Chandraratne, Director General NAQDA and Officers of NAQDA and other institutions were also present at this event.

The Multi-Species Marine Finfish Hatchery was constructed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) with Rs. 150 million from the European Union under the European Union Support to District Development Programme (EU-SDDP).