The Ministry of Fisheries, together with the National Aquaculture Development Authority, is set to launch a project to convert 50 acres of seawater mixed barren paddy land into crab farms in the vicinity of the Rekawa Lagoon in Tangalle.

State Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dilip Wedaarachchi commented that Rs. 165 million would be spent to uplift the fisher folk of the village.

The project is expected to create tourism interest while providing nearly 300 jobs for youths and promoting village entrepreneurship by encouraging paddy land owners to be investors of the project.

Wedaarachchi envisions 5,000 acres of crab farms across Sri Lanka through the economic programme.