• Latest
THANUJA’S FISHING

THANUJA’S FISHING

January 12, 2023
The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart

The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart

February 7, 2023
Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance

Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance

February 7, 2023
The Art of Local Writing

The Art of Local Writing

February 7, 2023
Carnival Magic

Carnival Magic

February 7, 2023
Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

Ponniyin Selvan 1: Leveraging the Lure of History and the Power of Storytelling

January 11, 2023
Rumination and Emotional Process

Rumination and Emotional Process

January 13, 2023
Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

Segar Represents Sri Lanka in Asia Art Bienniale in Dhaka

January 11, 2023
Good Conversations Start with Mlesna

Good Conversations Start with Mlesna

January 11, 2023
Exclusive Screening of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ on its Global Premiere at KCC Multiplex

Exclusive Screening of ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ on its Global Premiere at KCC Multiplex

January 11, 2023
Humble Journey of Podi Hamuduruwo

Humble Journey of Podi Hamuduruwo

December 1, 2022
KCC: Kandy’s Marvel

KCC: Kandy’s Marvel

December 1, 2022
Sweet Dreams and Serene Night

Sweet Dreams and Serene Night

December 1, 2022
Retail
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Subscription
Advertise
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 2022
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • March 2022
      • April 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022
      • December 2022
      • January 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
  • Find Us on Magzter
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

THANUJA’S FISHING

in General, September 2020
0 0
0

Large ponds with green tinged water catches your eye, there is work going on as large nets are cast and slowly drawn as little fish known as Fingerlings (Angillan in Sinhala) are transferred into the cement tank. Soon these Fingerlings will be on their way to large reservoirs that make up the landscape of North Central region to grow into the well-known freshwater fish. This project was initiated by Thanuja Thilakaratne, Sales Director at BT Options during the lockdown period, which he is currently continuing to operate while residing in Bubula, Hingurakgoda.

Having returned home to Bubula, Hingurakgoda from Colombo during the lock- down period, Thanuja met up with friends, and a discussion ensued on what could be done while at home. The opportunity of cultivating Finger- lings arose. Since he had an unused land that could be utilized, the decision was made together with his friends to start a project with the tech- nical advice from the National Aqua- culture Development Authority (NAQDA). Furthermore, as his brother had already established a small scale aquarium for ornamental fish, the family too was interested in the new project. The aim was to pass on to his brother, Sanuja to continue the work of Fingerling breeding once Thanuja returned to Colombo as soon as the lockdown was lifted. Large mud ponds and cement ponds were constructed within a period of one and a half months, and the work commenced, where Frys were introduced into the mud ponds.

This project focuses on the cultivation of Fingerlings from Frys (Asiththa in Sinhala). It is a collaborative effort between NAQDA and the Freshwater Fishermen’s Societies of the area, where the intention of the project is to increase the volume of fish in the reservoirs and lakes. NAQDA manages the maintenance of the reservoirs in the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Ampara districts. As such these projects are prevalent in all these areas. As part of this process fish breeding is done at the Freshwater Aquaculture Development Centers in Sevanapitiya, Dambulla and Kala Wewa. That is at the Centers, one of their tasks is to first nurture the fish eggs to Frys and there- after to Fingerlings before they are let into the reservoirs.

However, the volume of fish that is bred at these Centers cannot meet the demand and therefore the opportunity is provided to private individuals such as Thanuja to engage in this project to supply the required volume of fingerlings. There are various types of fish that are cultivated and intro- duced into the reservoirs and lakes such as varieties of Carps and Thilapia.

The type of fish would be deter- mined by NAQDA according to the requirements of the fishing community in the area. At this project, Thanuja was breeding tilapia. The Freshwater Aquaculture Development Centers provides the Frys, which are about two centimeters each, to the project. These little fish are nurtured for 45 days with constant technical assistance from the NAQDA, until they reach a size of 4-5cm, and then the fish are known as Fingerlings. Large nets were cast in and the grown Fingerlings were collected to transfer into the cement ponds. Amidst the balmy weather of Hingurakgoda the work continued. Generally, the fish are transferred into the cement pond about a day before transporting the fish to the designated reservoirs via Freshwater Aquaculture Development Centers. It is more of a transition point. The project task is completed for that par- ticular cycle once the Fingerlings are transported to the reservoirs and in large oxygenated bowsers.

These little fish are nurtured for 45 days with constant technical assistance from NAQDA…

Once these Fingerlings grow into large fish in the reservoirs, the fishermen would catch the fish for con- sumption. Thereafter, according to the continuous requirements of the Fishermen’s Societies, the entire process resumes and the cycle continues again. This project can be done if one has the required area to build the mud and cement ponds according to the requirements of the NAQDA. A A P Athauda, District Aquaculture Extension Officer, Polonnaruwa, NAQDA and J B Indika Udayantha, Aquaculture Extension Officer, Polonnaruwa NAQDA explained that this entire initiative is to support the livelihoods of the fresh- water fishermen in the North Central region.

Thanuja believes that there is an opportunity in Higurakgoda as he is the first to start the project in the area, because there is a demand for the supply of freshwater fish.Thousands of Fingerlings swam to and fro, little did they know that they would soon be heading far, to various regions of the country, thus continuing to provide a livelihood to the people in those areas.

 

TweetShareShare

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart

The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart

Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance

Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance

The Art of Local Writing

The Art of Local Writing

Explore Sri Lanka

Explore Sri Lanka Online, the web edition of Sri Lanka’s leading monthly corporate publication. Founded in 1996, the magazine currently has a distribution of over 6,000 copies island-wide.

Recent News

  • The Colombo Cultural Show: A Soiree into Sri Lanka’s Heart
  • Kandy Central Market: The epitome of local ambiance
  • The Art of Local Writing

Find Us

Explore Sri Lanka
20-2/1 Lauries Place Facing
R. A. De Mel Mawatha
Colombo 04
Sri Lanka.
(+94 11) 259 7991
(+94) 715 134 134
info@btoptions.com
btoptions.com

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 Explore Sri Lanka | Designed by Lithic Labs

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Issues
    • 2022
      • January 2022
      • February 2022
      • March 2022
      • April 2022
      • May 2022
      • June 2022
      • July 2022
      • August 2022
      • September 2022
      • October 2022
      • November 2022
      • December 2022
      • January 2023
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Archive
  • Find Us on Magzter

© 2022 Explore Sri Lanka | Designed by Lithic Labs

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In