Six fisheries harbors to be upgraded to Marinas

For the first time in Sri Lanka, six fisheries harbors will be converted to tourism and yacht marinas, said Chairman of the Chamber of Marine Industries of Sri Lanka, Kaushal Rajapaksa.

He said that these harbors would be dual-purpose, serving the fisheries community as well as the tourism sector requirements.

The first of these harbors would come up at Kapparathota, Weligama.

The Ceylon Fishery Harbor Corporation, which is initiating this project, is in the process of finishing the feasibility study at Kapparathota.

Subsequently, the Corporation is expected to build the breakwater.

Under the second step, the corporation will call for private investors to build a marina and provide other facilities to the tourists. These projects will then be operated as joint ventures.

Some of the other harbors are expected to be built in Hikkaduwa, Wellamankaraya in Nainamadama, Puranawella, and Mirissa.

Negombo harbor is to be used as a tourism venue to deploy leisure boats for lagoon safaris.