A proposal to develop passenger boats powered only by sails to travel across the Indian ocean was mooted by Neil Fernando, a top boat manufacturer and Chairman, Boat Building Technology Ltd when he spoke at the launch of the Maldives International Boat Show 2009 in Colombo this week.
In a response to a query from journalists, Ali Hussain Didi, High Commissioner for Maldives in Sri Lanka, said they strongly support the idea and if such boats are available he would travel in one of them.
He proposed that a competition of sail-boats be held by countries in the Indian Ocean which would be a foremost international attraction and also also promote tourism. Mr Didi said that Sri Lanka has been a major supplier of marine craft to Maldives.
He said his country consisting of more than 1000 islands requires a strong sea transport system to travel across more that 200 islands which are now inhabited and the Sri Lankan boat manufacturers could play a major role in this sphere. The Maldivian Boat Show, for the third time in Male, will be held from 12 to 14 October and is also expected to run at full capacity. Last year there were 85 stalls and this year organizers expect to see demand for 150 stalls. While Sri Lankan boat manufacturers dominated the event in the past, this year there are exhibitors from China, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and India.
Asked by the Sunday Times FT whether the demand maintained by Sri Lankan boat manufacturers in the Maldives would be affected by the presence of other competitors at this year’s show, Mr Didi said that it would be most unlikely because of the cost factor to bring the products from those countries.
Further, he said that Sri Lankan manufacturers have carved a strong foothold in their country and these Sri Lankan products are attractive with reliable quality. Mr Fernando said that they have been associating with the Maldives for the last 50 years and have built up strong ties.
He said that their company has supplied a large variety of sea vessels to the Maldives. They have also supplied patrol boats gun boats and other vessels. He said that they are not only exporting their boats to the Maldives but also to Western markets. |
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