Fishermen abandon protest

Athapattu Bandara

Fishermen in the Negombo, Chilaw and Kalpitiya areas have decided to abandon their protest and go back to sea, heeding the call by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Deputy Fisheries Minister Sarath Kuamara Gunarathna and local politicians met the fishermen who were engaging in the protest and had cordial discussions to give solutions for their problems.

After the discussion, the fishermen who boycotted fishing activities protesting against the recent fuel hike decided to give up the protest when the deputy minister informed them that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed officials to grant the fuel concession to all fishermen as promised by the government, Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunarathna told the Daily News. The protesting fishermen were demanding a proper mechanism to ensure their livelihoods and for granting the promised fuel concession to all fishermen without discrimination.

The deputy minister together with Western Provincial Council Fisheries Minister Nimal Lanza particpated in the discussion with the fishermen . They informed the fishermen that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has identified their problem well and promised to give solutions as soon as possible.

The fishermen who agreed to give up the protest and start fishing from today onwards thanked President Rajapaksa for taking immediate action to grant them relief.