State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi instructed officials to conduct a proper investigation into the fire that broke out in one of the two 60-foot long multi-day fishing trawler, which were handed over to the fishermen under the state assistance program, on its maiden voyage.
The Director General of the Department of Fisheries was informed in writing to investigate the fire immediately and submit a report to the Minister.
The vessel “Janith Putha 2”, had left the Dickowita fishery harbor on the 21st March and it was reported that the vessel caught fire shortly after it left the shore about 51 kilometers off Hikkaduwa.
The six fishermen in the burning vessel have been rescued by the fishermen in the other boat “Janith Putha 1” given under the government assistance program.
Accordingly, State Minister Wedaarachchi instructed officials to conduct an investigation to identify the cause of the fire and submit a report to him immediately.
The first 60-foot long multi-day vessel built at a cost of Rs. 60 million by the state-owned leading vessel builder Ceynor Foundation was launched in April last year. The new vessels have cold room facilities as well as expanded storage facilities to keep the fish fresh and equipped with several latest technological features to reduce post-harvest losses.
