Danusha Marine’s state-of-the-art boatyard built with an investment of Rs. 300 million at Payagala was opened by Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, U. D. Jayalal recently.
Construction work of the yard was completed early this year but it was not possible to have an opening ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the management was compelled to launch operations to meet delivery deadlines and the first 20-metre multi-day fishing vessel ‘FV Ocean Harvest’ built at the yard for Ocean Harvest Ltd of Mauritius was also launched on that day.
The 2,500 square metre boatyard on three acres of land at Diyalagoda, Payagala houses the newest equipment and technology and has capacity to build three, 24-metre boats concurrently.
Managing Director of Danusha Marine (Pvt) Ltd and Danusha Group, Sumithra Fernando recalled his beginnings on a ten-perch block of land in Moratuwa and Rs. 5,000 in his pocket two decades ago said that the new yard at Payagala which is his fourth would bring in over US $ 1 million into the country in the first year and US $ 3m from the second year. Owner of the first vessel built at the yard, Managing Director of Ocean Harvest Ltd., Mahen Sookun, speaking via video technology, said that he selected Dhanusha Marine because of the facilities they had. Directress of Dhanusha Marine, Dhanusha Fernando welcomed the invitees. Former Chairperson of the Export Development Indira Malwatte was also present.