Fisher People Say NO Sea Planes for Negombo Lagoon

Hundreds of People gathered at Jubilee Hall Negombo yesterday very strongly said,
"We need not any Sea Planes for Negombo Lagoon."

There are 3500 fisher people directly engage in Fishing while 1500 involve indirect fisheries activities in the Lagoon. It is also a Ramsar Wetland with the Muthurajawela Marsh which covers the livelihood of more than 10,000 families around the 35 villages in Negombo lagoon.
Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization, Lagoon Fisher People's Organization in collaboratio with the St.Anthony's Fisheries Organization had convened the meeting at Negombo.

"We all are gratitude to Lagoon. It provided our daily income. We all are depending on the lagoon. Anything disturb the lagoon means we all will disturb our lives", says Mary Shirani of Kadolkele, whose husband is a lagoon fisherman.

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda who attended the meeting said, "We need to expect some difficulties, if we want to protect the lagoon. There may be some sort of bribes to be given. A net, small plot of land, a boat, or many more. But, those will lust temporarliy. If we all want to protect the lagoon, we need to have a common understanding what is happening today in the name of development, added Fr.Sarath.

Aruna Roshantha of Eksath Fisheries Organization at Pitipana said, we all need to united and go forward if we all want to get the victory against the sea planes. But, we can not think our victory, if there are people who want to betray people and work with the corrupted politicians. We need to form a social movement which protect the rights of the fisher people added Aruna.

Fr. Sherad Jayawardene, FR. Sriyananda Fernando were also addressed the gathering with proposing some practical actions to be carried out.

At the end, a core group was selected and every body volunteered to the work to be carried out. The next core group meeting will be held on 22nd October.
The core group decided Herman & Subashinie of SVFWO to be served as conveners of the group.

Herman Kumara,