Nearly 10000 fresh water reservoirs exist in Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Fisheries has taken measures in exploiting the allocated funds for the development hatcheries and aquaculture centers for the purpose of increasing the fish population of inland reservoirs. Accordingly, aquaculture centers are planned to be established in the areas of Hambantota, Muruthawela, Kahandamodara, Polonnaruwa, Udawalawa and Iranamadu. Constructions of Iranamadu and Kahandamodara hatcheries have already been completed while Muruthawela hatchery has entered the last stage of construction. Constructions of remaining hatcheries are still in progress.

Currently it produces nearly 46 million of fish fingerlings and 16 million fries per annum. With the establishment of the new hatchery the said amount of fingerlings is expected to be raised by 30 million and the fires will be increased by 16 million per annum.

150 million fingerlings are currently required to be released into the entire reservoirs and thus fresh water hatcheries are planned to be established island-wide to formulate a formal network of breeding and distributing the required fingerlings, said the Minister.

Government has allocated Rs. 400 million funds for the purpose of establishing the Udawalawa new fresh water hatchery and the constructions are scheduled to be completed within this year. He also awarded the fishers fishing gears such as canoes and fishing nets.