The government is planning to conduct a new feasibility study for the Oluvil Port to determine how it can be used effectively.

This decision was announced by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic Resources, and Marine Resources, Ramalingam Chandraseker, during a recent meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee at the Parliament.

During the meeting, there was an extensive discussion on the future of the Oluvil Fisheries Harbor.

The Minister stated that a new feasibility study is necessary to rectify the issues caused by a lack of proper planning during its initial construction.

The future plans for the port will be based on the findings of this new study.

Additionally, to address the need for a fishing harbor in the Eastern Province, a plan is underway to upgrade the Valachchenai fishing harbor with new facilities by 2026.

A factory to produce ice for the fishing industry is also being planned for the area.

During the meeting, the Opposition Leader, Sajith Premadasa, questioned reports that the government planned to shut down the Sri Lanka Fisheries Corporation.

The Deputy Minister responded by clarifying that these reports are false.

He added that the ministry is also puzzled by the origin of these false reports, as the government has not made any such decision.

The Deputy Minister also announced a new pension scheme for the entire fishing community, which will be implemented starting November 21.

This will be a contributory pension plan, with benefits tied to the amount each fisherman contributes.

The meeting also included discussions on various other issues faced by fishermen in other parts of the country.