Construction of fisheries harbours and anchorages islandwide will be completed by 2013.

Harbours and anchorages will be provided vessels, equipment and infrastructure facilities in the near future, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.

"Arrangements are underway to begin the construction of Mannar and Gandara fisheries harbours. It will be completed by next year," he said speaking at the opening ceremony of the expanded Moratuwa-Panadura Fishery harbour's southern breakwater recently.

The Panadura fisheries harbour which was damaged by the 2004 tsunami was reconstructed with Chinese financial assistance. As a first step of this project the China had allocated Rs.300 million to construct the southern breakwater of the Moratuwa-Panadura Fisheries harbour.

The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry will open the Dikowita fisheries harbour in the near future. The Mutwal fisheries harbour will be closed after the construction of the Colombo South fisheries harbor is completed, the minister said.