Trinco fishermen receive canoes, mechanized boats

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 May 2005, 00:25 GMT]
Fishermen Relief Trust Fund (FRTF) of the National Development Bank (NDB) handed over twenty five canoes and ten mechanised fibreglass boats to fishermen in Trincomalee affected by the December tsunami disaster during an event held Saturday at the Dutch Bay sea beach in Trincomalee town, sources said.





Mr.Nihal Welikala, the General Manager and the Chief Executive Officer of the FRTF handed over the first canoe and mechanized boat to beneficiaries.

Mr.A.L.Somaratne, FRTF Assistant General Manager presided the event.

Mr.Somaratana said the NDB founded in 1978 was privatised in 1993. The Board of the NDB decided a day after tsunami disaster to assist the affected fishermen. The NDB formulated a scheme to provide new boats to affected fishermen in eleven districts in Sri Lanka. Trincomalee district is the third in the series to receive new boats and fishing gear, he added.

FRTF of the NDB distributed a total of 42 boats including 25 canoes to Trincomalee fishermen as part of the first phase. NDB officials said they would implement the second phase depending on the availability of funds.

Mr.Ravindra Ranjith, Senior Manager and Mr.M.Tharmarajah, of Eagle Insurance also spoke. Mr.Victor Antonypillai, Co-ordinator of the FRTF of NDB was also present, sources said.