Fishermen no longer need to carry Navy ID cards

Ridma Dissanayake

Navy Identity cards, made compulsory for Sri Lankan fishermen due to the security reasons, will not be used any more, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne said.

“The Navy Identity Card for fishermen was made compulsory due to security reasons.

We decided to do away with this after discussions with Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayantha Colombage. We have taken this decision after considering fishermen’s requests,” the minister said. However, he advised fishermen to carry identity cards issued by the Fisheries Department when going to sea, since the Navy has the right to check the IDs and fishing trawlers any time. The minister also appreciated Navy assistance to apprehend illegal fishing trawlers, fishing nets and other illegal equipment in Lankan seas.

The Navy arrested over 1,200 persons using illegal equipment for fishing in Puttalam during search operations. The Navy launched a programme islandwide under the direction of the Navy Commander to ban illegal vessels and equipment in Sri Lankan seas. All fishermen should support the Navy to make their efforts a success, Minister Senaratne said. He said arrangements are in place to take legal action against fishermen using illegal fishing equipment including dynamite, Laila and Surukku nets and trolling and also against fishermen who destroy the sea bed.

Vice Admiral Colombage appreciated the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry programme to ban the use of illegal fishing equipment and fishing trawlers in Sri Lankan waters and pledged Navy’s continuous support to discourage the practice.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Wayamba Province Fisheries Minister Sanath Nishantha, Ministry Secretary A P G Kithsiri, Fisheries Department Director General Nimal Hettiarachchi and Coast Conservation Department Director General Anil Premaratne also participated.