Moragoda hears Trincomalee fishermen's plight

[TamilNet, Monday, 28 January 2002, 16:14 GMT]
Officials of Trincomalee District Fisheries Co-operative Societies told Tamilnet Monday that they have informed the United National Front (UNF) government that Fishermen in the eastern district are not seeking any relief from the State but only want it to lift the restrictions and ban imposed on fishing in the region.

A delegation comprising officials of the Fisheries co-operative societies met the Minister of Economic Reforms Mr. Milinda Morogoda Sunday evening at the Brigade 22 Division Headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army at Plantain Point, Trincomalee and briefed him about the sufferings of the fishing community due to the ban and restrictions and ban imposed by the Sri Lanka Navy.

The Minister for Economic Reforms Mr. Milinda Moragoda accompanied by Sri Lanka army officers visiting the FDLs near the Piramanalankulam entry point 28 k.m west Vavuniya recently.(TamilNet library photo)

The delegation told the Mr. Moragoda that about six thousand fishing families in Trincomalee live in abject poverty due to ban imposed on day and night fishing in the sea. Several hundred fishermen from Manaiayaveli to Nilaveli, north of Trincomalee town are in dire straits because of the SLN ban on night fishing.

Several representatives of Fishermen Co-operative Societies pleaded with the Minister to take immediate steps to lift the ban on fishing completely. "We do not want any relief or assistance if the ban on fishing is lifted", they told Mr. Moragoda.

The Minister accompanied by the Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle paid a brief visit to Trincomalee Sunday and met local Army, Navy and Police officials,Northeastern provincial council officials, the government agent, representatives of non-governmental organizations and representatives of fisheries co-operative societies at a conference at the Plantain Point SLA camp.

The Minister promised to bring the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister on his return to Colombo.