Fisheries minister Douglas Devananda has identified land in Kilinochchi suitable for large scale aquaculture projects, in an effort to expand his patronage within Tamil areas.
The identification of large-scale sites for export crop cultivation such as aquaculture is a program being developed by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) which is targeting the Northern Province.
As of writing 61 “maps”, which are areas where aquaculture cultivation can take place, has been completed. In addition to this 28 maps have been identified in the Pasal area and 13 maps have been prepared to provide lands to applicants who have applied for this project from the Granch area.
The production of seafood will be prioritised at these aquaculture locations.
A further 85 maps have been prepared over 103 acres of land within the Northern Province. Devananda has ordered the construction 200 aquaculture units in Kilinochchi and plans to extend these projects to Mannar and Jaffna.
Douglas Devananda
Douglas Devananda is the leader of the EPDP, a pro-government Tamil paramilitary organisation accused of committing humans rights abuses through and after the war. The group stands accused of committing murders, extortion and running drug smuggling and prostitution rings with Tamil children, allegedly trafficking them into its networks in Malaysia and India.
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