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Free fishing in Jaffna

Facilities, funds to be provided through Uthuru Vasanthaya :

Limit on outboard engines relaxed :

All restrictions on fishing imposed on Jaffna fishermen will be lifted from today on the specific directions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP officially announced this in Karainagar, Jaffna yesterday.


Basil Rajapaksa, mp

Accordingly, Jaffna fishermen will be able to engage in fishing in the sea around the peninsula round the clock without any hindrance. They will also be able to send their harvest to the markets in Colombo through the A9 road which is now open, Rajapaksa MP said addressing fishermen in the peninsula at the Karainagar Thyagarajah Maha Vidyalaya premises.

The meting was held to ascertain problems of Jaffna fishermen and find quick solutions to them under the Uthuru Vasanthaya program.

Rajapaksa MP said fishermen in the peninsula were earlier allowed fishing during four days per week upto a distance of two kilometres from the coast.

“But from today they can engage in their vocation by venturing in to the deep seas round the clock all seven days of the week.”

He said the limit on outboard engines had also been relaxed and fishermen could now use outboard engines upto a 15 horse power capacity.

The Fisheries Ministry would facilitate Jaffna fishermen by building rest rooms and other facilities and funds needed would be provided through the Uthuru Vasanthaya program.

Fishermen’s Co-operatives would be provided with credit facilities to build the required cold rooms.

Until then two containers with cold room facilities have been stationed in the Jaffna peninsula, Rajapaksa said.

He added that Rs. 303 million would be allocated for the provisions of fishing gear to Jaffna fishermen.

Out of this Rs. 225 million would be allocated from ‘Gama Neguma’ and the balance Rs. 78 million would come from the fisheries Ministry funds.

Rajapaksa said registered lorries would be deployed to transport the fish harvest to Colombo in sealed containers.

The sealing would be done at various off loading places along the coast. The use of ‘Theppam’ would not be allowed at present until a radar system is mistalled too monitor them. Fishing would also be allowed within the Kankasenturai post outside its restricted zone.

Apart from this a new ferry would be provided at a cost of Rs. 150 million to facilitate traced to and from Delft Island.

The transport ban from Delft to Jaffna would also be lifted, he said.

Rajapaksa added that electricity, telecommunication and other infrastructure facilities would also be provided to Mandativu island.

Displaced Jaffna residents now living in IDP camps would also be re-settled soon. Resettlement would also be undertaken in Kayts once it is cleared of landmines fishing has been a major form of livelihood among Jaffna people from the past. Nearly 18,000 people in Jaffna engaged in fishing as a livelihood.

The assistance rendered by them in eliminating terrorism despite their loss of livelihood was greatly appreciated by the President and the Government. It was their duty not to allow terrorism to raise its head once again in their midst.

He also noted that Jaffna produced 48,000 metric tons of fish in 1983 but the harvest dropped to 2800 mt in 2008 as a result of terrorism.

Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, Fisheries Deputy Minister Felix Perera, Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa, Navy Commander Admiral Wasnatha Karannagoda, Northern Naval Commander Rear Admiral Somatillake Dissanayke, Jaffna Commander Maj. Gen. Mendaka Samarasinghe and Jaffna GA K. Ganesh were also present on the occasion.

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