Local body asks SLA to lift fishing ban

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 July 2002, 06:46 GMT]
The Chairman of the Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabha (local government institution) said Saturday that he has written to the Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Maj. Gen. Sarath Fonseka urging him to immediately lift the ban on fishing in the Jaffna lagoon off Koilakandy and Kilali.

The Sri Lankan government promised to lift restrictions on fishing in the northeast within ninety days of signing a ceasefire agreement with the Liberation Tigers, subject to conditions which have been questioned by Tamil politicians.

Mr. Anton Ponniah said that six hundred fishermen and their families face destitution as a result of the continuing SLA ban on fishing in the area which comes under his local government body.

In a letter sent to the SF Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka, Mr. Ponniah pointed out that the SLA is allowing Sinhalese to visit Kilali and Koilakandy while fishermen from the village are not allowed to go there.

"If Sinhalese visiting Jaffna can use the beach and lagoon in koilakandy and Kilaly why should the army refuse the fishermen go back to their own villages and deny them the right to ply their trade" Mr. Ponnaiah asked.