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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: FAO and MFAR collaborate with Italian Civil Protection, Japan and Belgium to restart livelihoods in Matara

Matara, December 3 - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources (MFAR) distributed 49 outboard motors and 2 208 nets to approximately 210 fishers in Matara today. This distribution of fishing equipment was made as part of three separate projects funded by the Italian Civil Protection Department, the Governments of Japan and Belgium.

The distribution was attended by the Honourable Minister for Home Affairs and Deputy Minister for Fisheries Housing Mr Chandasiri Gajadeera, Mr Giovanni Franchini Technical Advisor, Italian Civil Protection Department, G. Piyasena, Director General of the Fisheries Department and was held at the Matara Technical College.

"I am grateful for FAO's assistance to the fishers in Matara" said Minister Gajadeera.

Over 31 000 people were killed and almost a million left homeless after tidal waves hit Sri Lanka's shoreline on 26 December 2004. According to government estimates, 54 percent of the total fishing fleet was either made un-seaworthy or was totally destroyed by the tsunami.

A total of 235 kits, including 2 208 hurulla (trenched sardine) nets were distributed to 159 beneficiaries as part of a project funded by the Italian Civil Protection Department. This brings the total number of nets distributed by FAO in Sri Lanka to over 11 200.

"The Italian Civil Protection Department is extremely pleased with its collaboration with FAO in our efforts to get Sri Lankan fishers to restart their livelihoods" said Mr Franchini.

The Belgian funded project provided 39 of the 49 outboard motors distributed, while the Japanese funded project accounted for the other ten. The motors were distributed to boat owners who have their boats registered with the Department of Fisheries. The new motors will ensure that 49 more boats return to sea, and an estimated 100 fishers will resume their livelihoods. FAO has now distributed 484 outboard engines through the Belgian and Japanese funded projects.

"I am extremely pleased to have received an outboard engine for my catamaran" said Nalaka Subasinghe, a fisher who lost his engine in last December's catastrophe.

FAO is the UN's coordinating agency for the rehabilitation of the fisheries and agriculture sectors in Sri Lanka. Whilst FAO and the Sri Lankan government's immediate priority following the tsunami disaster has been to get the fishers fishing and farmers farming again as soon as possible, the longer-term strategy is to improve the sectors as a whole with a view to raising the incomes of coastal communities.

For more information contact Mona Chaya, FAO Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Coordinator in Sri Lanka Tel: 011-2689363 / 4