Rs. 30 mn allocated to reconstruct 10 Fishery Harbours - Deputy Fisheries Minister

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Deputy Fisheries Minister Neomal Perera said the Government has spent Rs. 3000 million to reconstruct 10 fishery harbours in the Southern Province destroyed by the Tsunami.

The Minister was responding to an adjournment motion moved by JVP MP Premasiri Manage.

Premasiri Manage (JVP):

Fishermen who engaged in fishing on July 22 faced a cyclone.

Their boats have been destroyed. The Government should pay some compensation to the families of fishermen who died due to this unfortunate incident. A large number of fishermen have also lost their fishing gear due to this catastrophe.

There was no early warning system to inform the fishermen on this disaster. Fishermen were not educated on this sudden disaster. As a result, eight fishermen died.

Seventeen fishing crafts were completely destroyed due to the cyclone. The Government has a responsibility to be vigilant on the nature of sea. Mothers have unable to send their children to schools due to the lost livelihood. Fishermen make a huge contribution to the national economy.

Even the Government did not convey condolence to the families of the fishermen who died as a result of this sudden disaster. The families of these fishermen have become helpless. The Government is not looking after the fishemen.

The wives of some fishermen are working as labourers due to loss of their husbands. Compensation should be paid to these families. If this trend continues, fishermen will quit the fishing industry.

M.K. Sivagilingam (TNA): The fishermen who faced this disaster have not been paid compensation. At present fishermen are undergoing untold hardships.

This Government engage in killing innocent people. The Government should take measures for the welfare of the people. The Government should stop the killing of innocent Tamil people.

Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of Fisheries:

I thank the JVP MP who moved this motion. The MP said we are going to put a temporary shed at Puranawella fisher harbour. But he should see the development taking place in this area.

Ten fishery harbours in the South were destroyed by tsunami. We are going to upgrade these harbours to international standard.

A sum of Rs. 3000 million has been allocated to establish 12 harbours in the Southern Province which are now under construction. The Government was able to increase the multiday fishing boats by 10 per cent.

When the President was the fisheries minister, he rendered a great service to the fishing community. Today we have a very bad climatic situation in the South. We have a radio service.

Fishermen will be educated everyday on the climatic situation by this radio service. We are going to educate the fishermen on the latest climatic situation in the world.

We educate the fishermen daily at 6.00 p.m. through this community radio service. Fishermen have been provided the opportunity to purchase satellite equipment duty free. Our ministry is to protect the fishermen. We are going to introduce gas engines to fishermen.

We are going to provide necessary infrastructure facilities. The President has taken steps to provide immediate relief measures to the fishermen who faced this sudden disaster.

A multiday boat goes to sea ten times per year.

The JVP always sees the bad side of the fishing industry. At present people in Puttalam and Gampaha ares have gone to the East to commence fishing activities.

Today our sea area has been extended.

At present we have to liberate only one third of sea area. The Government has also been able to librate Madhu Church from the clutches of the LTTE. A special insurance scheme will also be introduced for the benefit of fishermen.

We will give them a comprehensive insurance policy which will cover all their fishing gear.

We have been able to maintain Fishing Industry very well due to key international relationship maintained by the President.