Financial Times

Marina at Mirissa to attract world yachts
By Lashica Abeywickrama
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is teaming up with a foreign investor to launch a Marina (harbour for pleasure crafts) at the Mirissa Harbour aimed at tapping over 700 yachts that pass this area on the southern coast. It is to be developed on the lines of Marinas in the Maldives and Mauritius.

Felix Perera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources emphasised that their intention is to get the maximum usage of the sea and generate more income through this source. “Sri Lanka gets an income of $ 94 million, while Vietnam earns $ 2.39 billion and Indonesia earns 1.7 billion from the fisheries-related exports. We are looking forward to attract quite a number of high spending tourists and to develop the harbour and surrounding coastal area. Also the concept of generating income through yacht-tourists is being initiated for the first time in Sri Lanka.”

The government is in discussions with a Belgium investor who has assisted in clearing of sunken boats and broken fishing nets etc. after the tsunami disaster, and this is likely to materialise in the next two to three months. Accountancy and consultancy firm, Ernest & Young is preparing a 5-year financial and strategic plan for this project.

“Since the tourism industry is doing well this will be a commercially viable project for both the tourism and the fisheries and related industries. We are hoping to attract more foreign direct investments for the industry by initiating the marina concept,” said Asanga Abeygoonasekara, chairman, Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation.

He said there will be special immigration counters and custom officials at the harbour to take care of arrival and entry formalities.

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