According to the minister, the government has allocated the money for dredging the Hambantota Fishery Harbor in order to prevent accidents fishermen meet with when entering and leaving the harbor.

Participating in the event held to inaugurate the dredging program recently at Hambantota Harbor, the Minister said that the lives of the fishermen as well as their livelihood are endangered since the harbor is filled with sand. This issue has led to several incidents that fisher folks meeting with accidents and boats getting capsized.

The Minister said that as a solution to the safety concerns a dredging program was initiated engaging the ship "Sayuru" belonged to Ceylon Fisheries Harbors Cooperation.

Minister Amaraweera said constructing new fisheries harbors while reconstructing existing fishery harbors, especially in the North and East, is one of the key objectives of the government this year and the government has allocated Rs. 750 million in the budget for the program.

A program of operating fisheries harbors in line with the concept of "Green - Harbors" is to be implemented this year, the Minister added.