New life jacket regulation for fishermen

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Irangika Range

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Felix Perera told Parliament yesterday that fishermen must wear life saving jackets to avoid disasters and loss to life at sea.

Tabling regulations under the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, the Minister said it is necessary to wear a life saving jacket according to International Labour Laws. That is why, we have introduced life saving jackets for their safety.

But, fishermen are not interested in wearing these jackets. Even though, fishermen are very competent and tactful, sometimes they are unable to face disasters occurring suddenly at sea due to different climatic changes. He further said that fishermen contribute greatly to develop the national economy.

They play a prominent role in the labour force in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is necessary for them to take precautionary steps to avert disasters.