Visit to Beruwala Fish Harbour, South West Sri Lanka
A very, very early start while on my tour of Sri Lanka with Hayes & Jarvis - but a wake-up call that was eminently worthwhile - especially for any foodie who is keen on seafood.
While we were staying at the amazing Cinnamon Bentota Beach Hotel at Bentota, we set off for the two mile journey to the Beruwala Fishery Harbour, situated in the Kalutara District, bordering to the Southern end of Western Province of Sri Lanka.
It is one of the main fishery harbours on the western coast, about 40 miles south of Colombo.
A very early morning walk around the port in the early morning is a truly fascinating and colourful experience. You are completely free to wonder around - trying not to get in the way of the ever-busy porters who rush around trying to get the fish sold and on its way before the hot tropical sun rises.
The boats range from large ocean going trawlers which have been away for weeks or even months to brightly coloured outrigger canoes. It is a scene of apparent mayhem, but there is a great deal of rapid logic being applied to the buying and selling. Just watch out - it is all too easy to get sprayed with blood and fish guts as filleters and fish butchers work in an extremely rapid and frenzied manner to get their wares sorted and sold.
We saw all manner of fish - a lot of small and some medium sized tuna, as well as a great many tropical species I have no idea about.
The harbour at Beruwala is a naturally protected area and has been used by merchant vessels and local fishing boats for centuries. It was an important trading port during the British rule in Sri Lanka.
The harbour was destroyed during the 2004 Asian Tsunami and reconstructed by CFHC Awakening of Fishery Harbour project.
Ceylon Fisheries Corporation who was responsible for providing infrastructure facilities for fisherman initially constructed the fishery harbour at Beruwala in 1965. Since 1972 responsibility of maintaining and operating the harbour was entrusted to the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation. This Harbour is being developed as a model harbour with European Union (E.U.) standard facilities.
