News
FAO helps launch modified multi-day fishing vessel to reduce post-harvest loss
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Fisheries yesterday (04) launched a modified multi-day fishing vessel at an event in Colombo. A FAO press release said that it was meant to improve the quality of fish and reduce post-harvest loss in the Fisheries sector.
The following is the text of the FAO statement: “Fish products are an important source of animal protein for Sri Lanka and the sector contributes about 1.1 percent to Sri Lanka’s GDP. However, studies by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) indicate that the fish quality loss in some harbours is at 60 – 70 percent.
Some of the issues, contributing to these losses, include the lack of an adequate cooling system in multi-day fishing vessels that use weeks-old ice to maintain low temperatures and the captured harvest not being handled or stored properly by fishers, which reduces the quality of the overall harvest and damage the bottom layer of stored fish.
To address this issue FAO, together with the Ministry of Fisheries and NARA, modified the design of a multi-day fishing vessel as a pilot project to introduce new boat designs that provide an economically viable solution to minimize the quality loss of fish harvests. By reducing the existing post-harvest losses, the investment for the proposed new design can be recovered within 3.5 years.
The modified multi-day vessel features a pilot coolant system in the fish holds, and storage as well, as a modified fish holding facility to minimize the physical damage to fish due to overload. The modified vessel was launched at an event in Colombo under the auspices of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Fisheries, Douglas Devananda, State Minister of Fisheries, Piyal Nishantha de Silva, and the FAO Assistant Representative for Sri Lanka, Nalin Munasinghe.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena highlighted the potential of the project stating, “I’m thankful to the Ministry and FAO for the efforts taken to introduce innovative methods to protect the valuable harvests of the fisheries industry. This innovative design will bring multiple benefits for the fisheries community by enabling them to protect the quality of their harvest.”
Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda stated, “I thank FAO, NARA, NERD, and other fisheries organizations that supported us in this initiative. We’re committed to introducing innovative solutions to address the challenges faced by the Fisheries community today.”
Speaking on the initiative, Assistant FAO Representative for Sri Lanka, Nalin Munasinghe, stated “This initiative is an important step in introducing new technology to the Fisheries sector that will reduce losses, increase profits and improve the quality of fish available for consumers. As FAO we are committed to supporting the sustainable integration of technology and innovation to strengthen Sri Lanka’s journey to becoming a food-secure nation.”
Together with its partners, FAO in Sri Lanka is committed to addressing urgent food security needs, while improving the capacity of the fisheries and agriculture sectors to support Sri Lanka’s journey to becoming a food-secure nation.
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
Latest News
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
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Trophy row unlikely to repeat in Japan
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