Sri Lanka opened its first dedicated boat launching ramp on Wednesday at the Beruwala Fisheries Harbour, a Rs. 76 million facility intended to support the country’s boat manufacturing sector and unlock export sales of locally built vessels.
The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development constructed the ramp. Minister Sunil Handunneththi inaugurated it alongside Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Fisheries Resources Rathna Gamagamage, Kalutara District MP Chandima Hettiarachchi and Ministry Secretary Thilaka Jayasundara, Newswire reported.
Handunneththi said the new ramp would let entrepreneurs launch locally manufactured boats more safely and efficiently, reducing production costs and helping the industry compete in international markets. The government has identified boat manufacturing as a major emerging export sector, and the ministry said the equipped facility addresses a long-standing infrastructure gap for the predominantly fibreglass-boat builders concentrated around Beruwala.
The ramp follows other ministry-led industrial investments aimed at diversifying merchandise exports beyond apparel and tea.
