Perishable cargo exports begin from MRIA with consignment of edible fish to Ukraine

Jan 09, Colombo: Commencing perishable cargo exports, the first consignment of edible fish was shipped from the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) on Friday (8th January) to Ukraine.

SkyUp Airlines PQ-555 outward flight to Ukraine carried a 658.5kg fish & seafood consignment comprising edible Tuna, Prawns and Mullets from MRIA yesterday.

As an island with a territorial sea of 21,500 km2 and a coastline of 1340 km, Sri Lanka has a rich supply of fish and seafood. These fish stocks are mostly supplied from the Katuneriya area in Negombo.

Sri Lanka has emerged as a quality fish and seafood exporter, addressing such opportunities and, MRIA is ready and equipped to handle increased volumes of seafood air freight cargo in the future, airport officials said.

MRIA is positioned as an exotic tourism destination utilizing its strategic geographical location to boost passenger movements and now aggressively marketing its capability to attract cargo exports from Sri Lanka while establishing an international market for the local producers to market fresh vegetables, fisheries, fresh fruits and ornamental fish which brings in foreign remittances.

Further, Shehan Sumanasekara, Director of Operations, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited stated that plans have been set to promote MRIA as a cargo transhipment hub in the future linking the airport and seaport via bonded trucking.