President orders speedy relief to affected fishermen

Ridma Dissanayake

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered immediate relief to the fishermen affected by the adverse weather during the past three days, a Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry spokesman said yesterday.

He said Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne participated in inspection tours in Galle, Kalutara, Colombo, Negombo and Beruwela on the direction of President Rajapaksa and he is to submit a report to the President about the fishermen badly affected by the bad weather conditions.

Deputy Minister Gunaratne said a large number of fishermen have been affected by the adverse weather conditions since they they were not issued prior warnings “If the fishermen received an early warning from the authorities about the bad weather conditions, the damage could not have been this severe. They have not received any warning from the authorities. They have been too late as in previous times,” the deputy minister said.

“Providing relief to the families of the dead fishermen and treating the injured fishermen are the only thing which can be done now. Arrangements are in place in this connection.

We hope to provide relief as soon as possible as directed by the President,” he said.