ICT a basic need, not luxury: Fisheries Minister

•  ICTA launches fish information SMS service

Inaugurating yet another application developed by the ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) – Fish information SMS – on Tuesday (19), Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Rajitha extolled the value of ICT. “ICT is a basic requirement of everyone and not a luxury of the elite,” the Minister asserted.

“ICTA has contributed splendidly for bringing the optimum ICT benefits to all,” Senaratne added, addressing the gathering at the kick-off ceremony held at the Fishery Harbours Corporation (CFHC), Colombo. Extending a tribute to his Ministry staff as well, the Minister pointed out the great improvements achieved by the Ministry for the benefit of the people.

Fish-based exports have been increased 38% while imports reduced by 23%. The corporation’s loss has been reduced from Rs. 123 million to Rs. 19 million. Fisheries Corporation fish is sold at 123 Fisheries Corporation own sales centres and 225 outlets at CWE shops.

Ensuring availability of quality fish at affordable price

Referring to plans to ensure the availability of quality fish at affordable prices, the Minister said: “We want to extend the sales network so that soon we will have 250 CFC sales centres and 250 outlets at CWE shops for CFC fish. One of our aims is to reduce the price of fish, mainly by removing the increase in price of fish caused by intermediaries. Another of our main objectives is to provide the citizens quality fish at reduced price.”

Pointing out that knowledge is a valuable form of power, the Minister said: “The ability on the part of the citizens to know the price as soon as possible as and when the price is updated will go a long way in bringing down the price of fish islandwide in the private sector as well. As you know, prices also change according to locality. The SMS facility introduced today will ensure that consumers have speedy and accurate knowledge about this price variation according to the area as well. This will contribute much towards the reduction in the cost of living. We have now commenced a laboratory program for testing the quality of fish. Once this is made available on a large scale, consumers will be able to use the facility and ascertain the quality of the fish they buy. Furthermore, the use of the digital scales is also in the offing, which will ensure that the quantity of fish bought by the citizen is accurate.”

Fourfold digital method for ascertaining fish price

 Participating in the occasion ICTA Senior Program Head (Re-engineering Government and Admin. and Operations) D.C. Dissanayake explained the fourfold digital facility now available to consumers to know the price of CFC fish as and when updated. The fourfold ways referred to are as follows:

1. Thanks to the special application developed by ICTA, consumers are now able instantly to know the fish prices daily announced by the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation (CFC). This facility will be available through GovSMS using a special short code and sending it to the Government Information Centre GIC 1919). The said special code is compiled as follows: Cfc <space> prc <space> name of fish type <space> name of sales point.

Example of request in English: cfc prc prawns Colombo

Reply: Price of 1 kg of Prawns/Issa/Eraal Rs. 730.00 as at 2013.02.20 in Colombo

Example of request in Sinhala;: cfc prc kelawalla Colombo

Reply: Price of 1 kg of /Kelwalla/ Kilawarayan /Yellowfin Tuna Rs. 490.00 as at 2013.02.20 in Negombo

Example of request in Tamil cfc prc arach-soorai Colombo

Reply: Price of 1 kg of Arach-Soorai/Thora/Spanish Mackerel Rs. 1037.00 as at 2013.02.20 in Colombo

2. In the alternative consumers could also call the Government Information Centre (GIC 1919) and obtain the required fish price information.

3. As a third alternative, thanks to an Android application developed by ICTA, the users of Android phones could use this application to obtain the daily fish prices announced by (CFC).

4. As a fourth alternative consumers could access the CFC website<Fisheriescorporation.gov.lk>.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, CFC Chairman Maheel Senaratne, CFHC Chairman Upali Liyanage, CFC Vice Chairman Sunil Shantha Herath, CFC MD Ruwan Lankeshwara, Coordinating Secretary to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Deputy Minister Lasantha Wijelath and Private Secretary to Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Dr. Collin Fernandopulle were also present at the launch.