Title: Opportunities for sustainable management of landing facilities in the Anchorages Nilwella and Kottegoda in the Matara region of Sri Lanka

Infrastructure facilities of landing sites, which are the core of the fishing industry in Sri Lanka, were severely damaged by the tsunami in December 2004. Currently these facilities are being rebuilt in association with various non-governmental organisations. At present there are large numbers of small anchorages which require development of facilities and these involve relatively high investment costs and would then need to be maintained properly. One of the problems, at present, is that these landing centres are not maintained by any agency. In view of the high cost factor in the construction, maintenance and management of these fishery landing centres, it will become necessary to consider seriously how these could be managed in a sustainable way with added value for fishermen and their families. For this purpose, two anchorages were selected and related primary and secondary data together with both qualitative and quantitative analysis were used to evaluate the present situation and to identify opportunities and needs for the future. This research paper shows that all the facilities required in a fishery landing complex have to be operated through a proper sustainable system of management. It should become the responsibility of all the stakeholders in the fishing industry to develop the industry in a sustainable way. This is a challenge and a formidable task. For this purpose rebuilt facilities should be developed as a function of a community based management system through the local fisheries association under the direction of the government.