Kokilai fishermen rising above troubled waters

by Bandula Seneviratna, Vavuniya North group correspondent

KOKILAI: In spite of terrorist attacks, lack of transport facilities and various other difficulties, the fishermen at Kokilai fishing village are engaged in their employment because of the devotion of the Security Forces.

The present generation state that their ancestors had come to Kokilai six to seven decades ago and had made it their home.

They say that the sea around Kokilai is famous for big hauls of fish which gives them more profits.

Kokilai village which comes under Trincomalee Administrative District can be reached through Medawachchiya-Padaviya road and turn off at Bogaha junction to Pulmudai.

The other route is from Kebithigollewa to Pulmudai a distance of 58 miles. Then you have to travel by foot for 10 kilometers, from Pulmudai sea beach to this beautiful village Kokilai.

People of this beautiful village have to face many challenges and difficulties and they say that the worst is the terrorist attacks which now come very often.

To overcome this unhealthy situation and for the security of people of Kokilai the Army and Navy are doing their best. Because of that a good relationship prevails between the people and the Security Forces and they live together in peace and harmony. This unity between these two parties had created additional strength and it adds to the beauty of Kokilai.

Even though there are limits for fishing, authorities installed by the Security Forces, people understand that they are for their own good, says Thomas Fernando, President St' Anne's Fisheries Co-operative Society.

He states that the Security Forces look after them as their parents and therefore the villagers accept the decisions taken by the Security Forces.

Thomas Fernando said there were 306 families living in Kokilai, but now it has come down to 174 families comprising around 390 members. Out of that 300 persons belonging to 10 seine groups are engaged in fishing in Kokilai.

According to Thomas Fernando, the fishermen are allowed to go five kilometers into deep sea and do the fishing in the daytime for four days in a week considering the security situation.

"Marketing of our products for a reasonable price has become a problem because the businessmen who come to purchase fish are fixing the prices", says Sarath Kumara, Secretary, Co-op Society and he requests that to prevent this injustice the Fisheries Corporation should take action to establish a purchasing center, to purchase fish direct from fishermen.

"We are unable to catch big fish and obtain lighter hauls of fish, because of our inability to do deep sea fishing.

In shallow waters we get only small fish, and terrorists are responsible for this situation" says the Secretary.

"Only small fish like salaya, hurulla and sprats can be caught these days and the prices are fixed between Rs. 30-50 per kilo and we do not think that these prices are reasonable", says W. M. S. K. Wijekoon a fisherman. He says "our income can be increased four times this, if we are allowed to do fishing freely and big fish like Seer, Shark and Galmalu can be caught."

None availability of a bridge to go to village, teachers for schools, lack of medical facilities and transport facilities are a few among the other major problems they are facing according to fishermen of Kokilai and they state that these grievances were brought to the knowledge of Minister of Nation Building, Susantha Punchinilame who visited Kokilai recently and they believe that the Government will find the early solutions for their problems.

The Kokilai fishermen who live in peace and harmony with the Security Forces and engaged in fishing state that they love and respect their motherland and whatever the problems they may face they are determined to stay in this land and they request that they should be granted relief by providing solutions to their unsettled common problems.