Min Visituru-2012: showcasing underwater beauty

Min Visituru-2012, the international exhibition of ornamental fish and aquatic plants and accessories, was ceremonially opened at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne and Deputy Minister Susantha Punchinilame.

The three day exhibition is organised by the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) along with the Economic Development Ministry and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry to boost the country's ornamental fish industry.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha
Senaratne participate in the opening of the Min Visituru-2012 exhibition. Inset: An exhibit that attracted the crowd’s attention.
Pictures by Thushara Fernando

The exhibition is targeting international buyers, sellers and the public interested in ornamental fish.

"The ornamental fish industry has a rapidly increasing export market and Sri Lanka has a huge potential to grow in the industry. Though Sri Lanka's share in the international market is small, Sri Lanka is among the few well-known countries in the industry.

Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Czechoslovakia and Thailand were the leading ornamental fish exporters and total annual export value of these countries is around US$ 200 million," sources said.

Sri Lanka's total export earnings from ornamental fish were Rs 1,112 million in 2011, they said.

There are over 100 exhibition stalls at the exhibition and it is open to the public until tomorrow.

NAQDA chairman Nihal Chandraratne, Ceylon Fisheries Corporation chairman Maheel Senaratne and large number of guests participated.

Daily News- Srilanka