The Oluvil Port will be the only fisheries port and it will create a hub for all international trawlers as a base to unload their fresh fish for processing to export for Japanese, Chinese and other Asian markets, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman (SLPA) Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrema.

The trawlers which will be docking in the Oluvil port will be larger than the present ones in Sri Lanka and will be between 50 and 100 metres. “A percentage of the output will also be fed into the local market as well,” he said.

The SLPA will be providing support services in terms of the cold rooms and other processing facilities where there are two cold rooms which could process 500 tonnes daily which will be processed, frozen and exported to international markets.

The project will also generate over 300 direct employment opportunities while there will also be more than 1,000 indirect employment opportunities as well.