News
Chinese sea cucumber farms back in operation in Kilinochchi
By Dinasena Ratugamage
Two sea cucumber farms, managed by a Chinese company in Kilinochchi, recommenced its operations after fishermen’s associations in Jaffna and Kilinochchi said that they no longer opposed the farms.
The operations of the two farms were stopped about a month ago due to protests by fishermen; the Chinese nationals working there left. Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda too threatened to take stern action if the sea cucumber farms operating allegedly without a licence.
However, it was revealed that in 2016, National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) had issued a licence to the sea cucumber farm as a joint venture between a Sri Lankan and a Chinese company. When this was revealed, the fishermen’s associations abandoned their protests.