• Long-awaited Beruwala boat launching pad stalled at procurement stage
• Industry struggles with infrastructure gaps, labour shortages, high costs
• Govt. delay risks competitiveness of Lankan boats in international markets

The Ministry of Industries is still finalising the procurement process to construct the country’s first-ever boat launching pad in Beruwala, The Sunday Morning Business learns. 

The Government in 2020 allocated Rs. 100 million to construct this facility, intended to modernise the marine manufacturing sector, which still uses outdated and manual launching methods, making it less competitive in international markets.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Ministry of Industries Additional Secretary – Sector Development Chaminda Pathiraja explained: “The next step will be finding a contractor for the project. However, we will seek a local contractor, not an international one. Our focus is on large boat manufacturers because although small boats can still use the traditional methods, larger ones cannot.”

Currently, boat manufacturers use manual operations, such as backhoes, to push boats out to sea, which often damages the boats and risks the safety of those on board. With waves hitting the boats, there is a significant risk of them capsizing during launch.

According to the Chamber of Marine Industry Sri Lanka (CMISL), only the Colombo Dockyard, which is Japanese-owned, has a proper boat launching facility in Sri Lanka. 

Thus, the Beruwala facility presents a critical opportunity for a Government-owned boat launching pad, which could attract more international business and bring foreign revenue into the country.

CMISL Director – Boat Building Industry Development Sumithra Fernando stated: “Boat owners, especially those from overseas, are often dissatisfied with the unsafe and improper launching techniques used here, which can damage brand new boats.”

Fernando noted that despite high international demand and a steady stream of orders, the Sri Lankan marine industry faced numerous challenges, including infrastructure deficiencies, the high cost of transporting boats to harbours (which can be as much as Rs. 1.5 million), labour shortages, and rising electricity tariffs and raw material costs.

Furthermore, Fernando stressed the critical issue of a skilled labour shortage, with many skilled workers migrating to countries such as Korea and Japan, imposing a further strain on the industry. “These countries are now actively seeking our workers,” he added.

The boat launching pad remains incomplete, although the Ministry of Industries has allocated Rs. 40 million each in the last two years towards the project, bringing the total funds for the construction of the boat launching pad to Rs. 80 million. 

Despite these obstacles, the marine industry recorded an export revenue of $ 79 million in 2023. The target for 2024 is to reach $ 100 million, according to the CMISL.