Colombo's St John’s Fish Market Relocates to Create a Clean Environment and Ease Traffic in the City

20th March 2011, www.sundayobserver.lk, By Lalin Fernandopulle

The new fish market complex will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on March 26, Project Director, Aquatic Resource Development and Quality Improvement Project of the Ministry of Fisheries, Jayantha Chandrasoma said.

He said St. John’s fish market will be closed and all wholesale fish trading will take place at the the new complex.

The new state-of-the-art market is built on a sprawling 3.7 acre block along the Katunayake expressway with an investment of Rs. 1.9 billion funded by the Government and the Asian Development Bank.

“The new market consists of more facilities and space for business. There will be a retail market for customers who wish to buy small quantities”, Chandrasoma said.

St. John’s fish market was relocated to create a clean environment in Colombo and ease the traffic congestion in the city.

The new market complex comprises a wholesale market with 148 stalls and a retail market with 128 stalls, storage and sales facilities, a 25 ton flake ice plant with room for expansion up to 50 tons, a blast freezer room, cold rooms, a modern cafeteria, shopping, banking and office space, parking space for 500 vehicles and water treatment are some of the facilities at the new market complex.

Chandrasoma said the former fish market lacked proper hygienic standards, accommodation for large volumes of fish and parking space. The new fish market has come under criticism from certain fisheries associations claiming that it is built away from the business environment and lacks trade links.

The construction of the new fish market commenced in 2009. The delay in opening the complex was due to elections and implementation procedures.

Sri Lanka Ornamental Fish Industry Can Reach $1bn by 2012

22nd April 2010, www.dailynews.lk

The peaceful environment in the country will fuel the industry development and growth momentum will continue with the growth in the tourist sector, Association of Live Tropical Fish Exporters of Sri Lanka, President Sathyendra Wijayapura told Daily News Business.

“It is important to provide assistance to industry stakeholder as it contributes 100 percent to the national economy. The benefit derived is widespread due to the stakeholder distributed countrywide”, he said.

The industry suffered a setback due to recent air travel cancellations that hampered ornamental fish exports. The time was right to earn higher value of foreign exchange as it was just after the Easter holidays and the tailend of the spring season.

“This was a big blow to the country as it was the time where the European market was booming and the demand was at peak. However, the industry could recover if air travel reaches normality to participate in the largest international pet exhibition - Inter Zoo to be held in Eurnbury Germany in early May.

This is an important event where all importers and wholesellers participate. Sri Lanka will conduct a pavilion with the participation of ten large-scale exporters. They expect to promote and generate more business.

Sri Lanka’s economy is progressing well and the stock market is performing steadily. There are indications that the ornamental fish industry could prosper with the banking industry also being receptive towards the business community.

There are 50,000 stakeholders including breeders, suppliers and collectors and the ornamental fish industry could thrive, as the restriction to use Northern and Eastern waters is no more there.

The marine fish that are exported is caught from the lower level of the food chain where the numbers are high. This ensures the preservation of the natural balance in the ecosystem. The fish breeds fast at this level and it helps the sustainability of the industry.

The industry has a promising future. The Association is working towards educating divers to enable them to develop diving and collecting skills not to destroy the natural habitat and to use safety measures.

This will ensure minimal loss to the industry. “We have natural conditions to breed marine fish and urge the Government to support this industry as it could earn high foreign exchange in future”, Wijayapura said.