Concerned Citizens of Sri Lanka need to be alert and act in the alarming situation!

Today, I could meet some fishermen at Gandarawella and also at Thalalla sea beach. Both the communities are affected with two different issues though they are coming through the globalization, privatization and marginalization process of so called development process in the post war context. In Gandara wella, Dayananda, a small scale fisherman, a member of NAFSO narrated their pathetic story. "We were demanding a harbour for parking our fishing crafts for years. But, we did not want to loose our land and houses and leave the village. We have been living here for our life time and there is no any intention to leave this place. But, we expect justice to our community as we cannot do our fishing activities when we are living far from the coast." There will be around 20 houses be demolished to build up the harbour. "We were affected by tsunami 2004 and given houses out side. But, there is no point of giving houses completely out of the sea coast. That is why we are not moved out from the coast." There seems no even compensations paid to those who will be displaced. People seems no interest to receive any compensation even government offer them as a part of the loose of the houses and land. In Thalalla, the small boat operators, again NAFSO members have affected by the tourism. "We can not put up even a temporary hut to keep our nets, engines, or any equipments in our own beach. What a development is this? The people live in their own land are being thrown out in the name of development. Tourist hotels and hoteliers are day by day encroach our own lands. Some people sell their land to hoteliers in a higher rates and leave the areas. But, we fishermen who are depending on the sea and the coast, can not leave the land." This is frustrated voice of fisher leader of Thalalla. "When we were sitting in the sea shore, police come and chase us away saying we are disturbing the tourists. This is our land and our beach, our boat parking anchorage point. We can come and go to our place where ever I need. But, our freedom, our movements, our livelihoods disturbed with the tourism industry here." An old fishermen, around 6o years old shared his views at Thalalla. "There is no space for us. We are push away from our own coast. The same space is replaced the facilities for tourists. Are we citizens of this country? Don't we have any ownership of these coasts we have been using for generations since out fore-fathers? We need answers from our authorities. Once Coast Conservation Department come and tell us, we will be fined Rs. 100,000 if we put up even a temporary fishing hut at our own coast.? Can any one tell us this is our country belong to us? Or any foreigners come and go for tourism?" These are important aspects to consider as people are loosing their fishing grounds, agricultural lands, lagoons, fresh water reservoirs in many parts of the country, although politicians in the country are saying they do not privatize any public properties as previous regimes were doing this in the past. It is hard to see any response from the society today, as the whole society became increasing a numbing situation day by day. Herman