By: Staff Writer
January 07, Colombo (LNW): Although 12 years had passed since the commencement of fish operations the Fish Market Complex Management Trust had not been legislated through an Act of Parliament at the end of the year 2022-22/2023 under review.
Although the management trust should be introduced the necessary guidelines and rules to ensure that the fish food handled in the fish market complex is handled in a healthy manner, to ensure that the health and quality of the traded fish food is maintained at a proper standard, but the management trust had not done so till the end of the year under review.
Also, at the end of the year 2022 an arrears amount of Rs.81 million had to be recovered from the shop owners and of that amount Rs.55 million was dues that had not been paid for more than 03 years but sufficient actions had not been taken to recover the arrears.
The Peliyagoda Fish Market Complex Management Trust was established by the Trust deed dated on 10th of August 2010 and started operations in 2011 with the value of fixed assets Rs.1,694 million.
It is consisting of facilities including wholesale market with 148 units, retail market with 128 units, cold storage, and ice plant for the benefit of wholesale fish traders, fish producers and consumers so that fish can be handled healthily and in accordance with international standards.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Fisheries Corporation has been selling fish on credit contrary to internal circular instructions of the Corporation, Auditor General’s recent report revealed.
According to the internal circular instructions of the corporation, although instructions had been given to immediately suspend the sale of fish on credit, the total fish sales value to be collected on 31st of December 2021 was Rs.29 million.
But there was an unpaid balance of Rs.17 million due from the sale of fish to the employees and from the hospital’s outstanding, the report indicated.
However, the action has not been taken against the officers who sold fish on credit against the circular, audit inspection unearthed.
The Fisheries Corporation was engaging in fishing operations outside the “Resource Zone” related to the fisheries sector.
The corporation has been carrying out these activities in accordance with accepted international rules.
It is also engaged in fish processing, fish selling in foreign and local markets,and certain activities of import and export of fish and fish products when deemed necessary, entering into joint venture agreements with domestic and foreign investors.
These investors are representing local and foreign producers and distributors to carry out any of the above activities that were constitutionally assigned to the corporation, but the Corporation had been done only the activities of fish processing and wholesale or retail sale or distribution of fish, AG ‘s report disclosed.
